By james art 
With the start of Tihar, Nepal’s annual festival celebrating flowers and lights, markets across the country are abuzz with banned plastic flowers. These artificial flowers overshadow natural flowers, causing concern among authorities and citizens.
The government of Nepal has banned the manufacture, import and sale of plastic flower garlands throughout the country. However, major cities including Kathmandu, Birgunj, Hetauda, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Butwal and Nepalgunj continue to display plastic flowers prominently in shops. This prompted several municipalities to issue notices and warnings seeking to enforce the ordinance.
In Kathmandu, the city government issued a statement on Thursday announcing a crackdown on plastic and plastic flower garlands. The notification announced a ban on single-use plastic items, plastic flower garlands and plastic bags thinner than 40 microns. Violators face penalties, including fines of up to Rs 50,000, depending on the scale of the offence.
Other municipalities such as Rampur municipality in Palpa, Taha municipality in Makwanpur and Dhangadi sub-city in Kailali have also issued similar notices restricting the sale and distribution of plastic flowers and garlands.
Ongoing implementation challenges
Despite these regulations, trade in plastic flowers and bags continues to flourish in Nepal. Several municipalities, including those in the federal capital, have repeatedly issued warnings, but plastic products continue to be available in the markets, especially around holidays.
The government initially banned plastic bags in the Kathmandu Valley on April 14, 2015, banning bags wider than 20 inches, longer than 35 inches or thinner than 40 microns. In 2019, the Ministry of Forests and Environment re-emphasized this restriction as part of a 100-point plan banning plastic bags below 40 microns in urban areas and below 30 microns in rural areas.
Likewise, the Ministry of the Environment, with a nationwide decision dated August 17, 2021, tried to limit the use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns, but the measure failed to achieve effective implementation. In 2022, the federal government approved the 2022 Plastic Bag Ban Plan, and on July 17, 2023, issued a total ban on the manufacture, import, sale and storage of plastic flower garlands across the country.
The customs department refuses to import plastic flowers
The customs department claims that no plastic flowers or garlands have entered Nepal through official channels since the ban. According to spokesman Muktiprasad Shrestha, checks at all points of entry ensure that banned items do not pass through customs legally.
“After the ban, plastic flowers or garlands have not entered Nepal through official trade routes. However, due to our open borders, illegal imports can still reach the market,” explained Shrestha. Officials acknowledged that although the District Security Coordination Committee conducts joint inspections in border areas, enforcement challenges have allowed plastic flowers to continue entering Nepal through unofficial routes.
Border security and enforcement efforts
Meanwhile, the Armed Police Force (APF), responsible for border security and customs checks, said they are working hard to prevent the smuggling of banned items. APF spokesperson DSP Shailendra Thapa said that the officials deployed at the border check posts are conducting strict checks.
“APF is strictly inspecting all goods at the border posts and any lapses among security officials will be rectified,” assured DSP Thapa, responding to concerns that banned plastic flowers continue to cross into Nepal despite the restrictions.
Imports of plastic flowers exceed 20 million rupees
Despite the ban, plastic decorative items, including flowers and bouquets, continue to be sought after. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Nepal has imported plastic decorations worth over 29 million rupees, amounting to 56 tonnes. While these items come from around 20 different countries, China and India are the main suppliers of plastic decorative materials.
In contrast, imports of natural flowers stood at Rs 270 million during the same period. Customs data shows that in 2023-24, Nepal exported flower goods worth Rs 1.02 crore, while imports exceeded Rs 270 crore.
This demand for plastic flowers during Tihar, a holiday that traditionally celebrates nature and flowers, raises questions about the effectiveness of bans and the need for better public awareness and policy enforcement.
With Nepalese municipalities increasing their efforts to enforce restrictions, the government faces a crucial challenge to ensure that natural flowers take center stage this festival season, respecting both tradition and environmental responsibility.