Nepal's first food supplement industry is in crisis because it cannot compete with foreign products. Due to the unrestricted import of dietary supplements from India and other countries, the dietary supplement industry 'Jayshree Healthcare' in Parwanipur of Parsa-Bara Industrial Corridor has reached a sick condition.

The owner of the industry, Saket Cal, complained that dietary supplements, especially imported from India, are trying to ruin the domestic industry. He said that due to the government policy, the indigenous dietary supplement industry could not compete with the imported dietary supplements.

Dietary supplements are taken to make up for the lack of a balanced diet in the human body. Cal says that although the government has allowed the pharmaceutical industry to import raw materials and packaging materials at a one percent customs duty, the dietary supplements have been determined by increasing the customs duty and value added by 20 to 40 percent, so the industry cannot operate. He said that the government should facilitate the import of raw materials like pharmaceutical raw materials. He said that his industry, which was established and operated with an investment of 40 million rupees a year ago, has currently sent more than 20 million worth of medicines to the market for distribution, but only sold 60 million rupees.  The

industry has been importing raw materials worth 10 million to 15 million rupees annually from India. The company currently employs 50 people directly. The industry has produced 40 types of food supplements.

In the last fiscal year in Nepal, dietary supplements worth about one and a half billion rupees were brought in from India and third countries. Cal alleged that the domestic industry was also made sick by government non-cooperation and complicated laws. He said that there is a problem in running the industry due to the lack of necessary cooperation and coordination from the relevant agencies.

Although there is a high risk that imported food supplements may be of poor quality and it may have a serious impact on public health, he alleges that the concerned agencies are not serious about it.  

The regulatory body of dietary supplements, the office of the Food Technology and Quality Control Department, lacks sufficient manpower and technicians, but they are having problems coordinating the necessary work, he said. He complained that the Drug Administration Department also misuses the Drug Act to block the sale and distribution of indigenous food supplements in drug stores. He also said that since foreign dietary supplements are imported without registration and approval, the three need to be regulated.

He said that his company, which has been manufacturing quality, GPM-certified, health-focused products in Nepal, is now finding it difficult to survive due to the government's double standards of not taking action against those who do not follow the rules and oppressing those who follow the rules.

He said that the Department of Drug Administration is threatening pharmacies by interpreting approved and registered food supplement products as drugs, prohibiting sales, and unnecessarily controlling them, and this is completely illegal.

He alleges that the Ministry of Health and the Drug Administration Department have openly disobeyed the order of the court. He said that the Supreme Court has already ordered that food supplements should not be considered as medicine. He alleges that even though the Patan High Court has issued an order to stop such behavior, the relevant agencies have remained silent.