G/SPS/N/NPL/23  
 
15 November  2016 
(16-6281) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: NEPAL  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agricultural Development, 
Department of Food Technology and Quality Control  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Whisky, rum, vodka  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relev ant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed quality standard for whisky (malt grain 
whisky, blended whisky, other whisky); Proposed quality standard for rum (rum, white 
rum and flavored r um); Proposed quality standard for vodka . Language(s): Nepali . 
Number of pages: 2+2+2 (6 in total)  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/NPL/16_4683_ 00_x.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/NPL/16_4683_01_x.pdf  
http://me mbers.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/NPL/16_4683_02_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control 
proposes the quality standard for the above mentioned food products. This standard 
serves:  
a. as a compulsory provisi on under food law and regulation;  
b. to monitor export /import of these food products; and  
c. to maintain safe and quality food product s to the consumer.  
The following definitions are provided in the standard:  
 Whisky is the alcoholic beverage made by distilling t he fermen ted extract of malted 
cereal grains or other starch f ood products. It shall be with or without caramel colour 
or additives;  
 Rum is an alcoholic distillate obtained from fermented juice of sugarcane, sugarcane  
molasses,  as well as any other  sugarca ne product,  sugar  beet or sugar  beet 
molasses . It should  not contain  any colouring  matter  other  than caramel.  It can also  
be prepared  from neutral,  rectified,  distilled  spirit or a mixture  of any combination 
thereof;  
 White  rum is  rum without  caramel colour , in order to be designated  as white  rum; 
 Flavoured  rum is an alcoholic  beverage  made  out of rum and flavourings (spices or 
fruits), with or without permitted colour and with or  without added sugar;  
 Vodka is  the distilled  alcoholic  beverage  made  from neutr al spirit which  may be 
obtained from potato, molasses and other fermented grains. It shall be with or 
without permitt ed colour, flavor and additive.  
The proposed standard sets the requirement for essential composition and quality 
factors, hygiene, packagin g and labeling requirements as per the Codex standard.  G/SPS/N/NPL/23  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [ ]  animal health, [ ]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal He alth Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [ ] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it devia tes from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
Available in Nepalese Language  Nepali  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : After Published in Nepal Gazette  
Proposed date of publication  (dd/mm/yy) : After Published in Nepal Gazette   
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : After Published in Nepal Gazette   
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty day s from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 14 January 2017  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
a) Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Kathmandu, Nepal  
Fax: + (977 1) 4226 337 
E-mail: info@dftqc.gov.np  
b) SPS National Enquiry Point, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control  
Tel: + (977 1) 4256 947 
Fax: + (977 1 ) 4262 337 
E-mail: spsnepal@ntc.net.np  
Website: http:// www.spsenquiry.gov.np  
13. Text(s)  available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [ ]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Joint Secretary and Focal Point for  
National Notification Authority of SPS,  
Food Security, Agri -business Promotion and Environment Division  
Ministry of Agricultural Development, Kathmandu  
Government of Nepal  
Tel: + (977 1 ) 4211 687 
Fax: +(977 1) 4211 935 
E-mail: info@moadwto.gov.np  
Website: http://www.moadwto.gov.np