Nepal Infrastructure 
KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal is in the process of finalizing a draft guideline for the production, processing, and packaging of green coffee beans and ground coffee by applying good manufacturing practices (GMP).
The ‘Guidelines on ‘Processing and Packaging of Clean and Quality Coffee, 2079’ draft is currently in the final stage of its development, following consultations with stakeholders, as well as observations of coffee farms and processing centers in the coffee-producing districts.
The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) is preparing the draft with technical assistance from the International Trade Center (ITC) through the EU Nepal Trade and Investment Program, supported by the European Union. The Technical Committee responsible for overseeing and providing guidance on the draft’s technical components was convened on Wednesday to discuss its progress and coherence with other relevant regulations.
The drafting process began in March 2022 with the formation of a task force group, which visited different coffee farms and processing centers in Syangja, Kaski, and Kavrepalanchowk districts in November and January, engaging with stakeholders to discuss the draft.
The guideline covers the general principles of good manufacturing practices to be adopted in coffee processing, arrangements for maintaining coffee quality, basic provisions for coffee processing, processing and packaging sites, structures and facilities, and arrangements related to traceability and records.
Additionally, they include good practices related to processing, packaging, storage, transportation, and product certification. With the enforcement of the Guideline, it is envisaged that it will help to make Nepali coffee competitive in the international market due to quality assurance.
