The Government of Nepal has introduced new minimum standards for conducting business through information and communication technology (ICT) on an online platform. The objective of these guidelines is to strengthen consumer protection, regulate digital commerce, and formalize the growing online marketplace. Under the provisions of the E-commerce Act 2064, this guideline covers all types of digital sellers, including those who sell through social media platforms, and requires audits, as well as certification by the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection (DCSCP).
The framework is not only applicable to domestic sellers, but it also extends to international online sellers (including sellers using foreign platforms), thereby establishing an obligation for those companies to have a local presence or appoint a designated representative within Nepal to receive, resolve, and manage customer complaints including the obligations outlined in legislation on taxation, company registration, consumer protection, data privacy, etc. According to Narahari Tiwari, Director of the DCSCP, this regulation will provide a framework for formalizing the e-commerce marketplace, reducing the risks associated with online fraud while increasing accountability among sellers.
All e-commerce platforms in Nepal must register on the DCSCP website and get approval before operating. Firms must submit registration, tax, platform, privacy, return, and cybersecurity documents. Updates must be made within 7 days, and non-compliance within 35 days may lead to suspension.
Although registration & renewals are free, platforms must also pay taxes (if applicable) and keep personal information encrypted as a secure repository. The guidelines also detail the operation of e-commerce experiences, purchase transactions, and interaction between consumers and companies. E-commerce companies must provide electronic invoices to consumers for all purchases, all refunds must be completed within 7 days of an online payment failure, and advertising must not include any false or exaggerated statements.
If there is unauthorized access, data leak, or system failure, the e-commerce platform will be closed until the violation is remedied, and the department must be notified immediately. The DCSCP (Department of Commerce and Supplier Compliance Program) will conduct ongoing inspections to identify non-compliance, and this will involve consultation from industry stakeholders such as information technology professionals, cybersecurity personnel, consumer rights advocates, and the media. Companies that violate these guidelines may also face potential legal action.
E-commerce companies must provide consumers with an online complaint mechanism that allows the consumer to escalate unresolved complaints to the DCSCP. The DCSCP offers consumers an opportunity to resolve all complaints within 15 days and has established an E-Commerce Conflict Resolution Committee that will adjudicate complaints with input from buyers, sellers, and DCSCP inspectors. E-commerce platforms must maintain records of all transactions, invoices, complaints, hearings, and inspection information for a period of at least 5 years.
Over the last several years, there has been a tremendous growth in Nepal's e-commerce market, which is currently estimated to involve billions of rupees worth of transactions. Much of this is driven by the rise of informal social media sellers who conduct their businesses in an unregulated and untaxed environment. In July of 2025, a government department issued a public statement to encourage digital sellers to register their businesses with them.
With the 2026 guidelines, the process of registering your business as a digital seller has now been formalized and allows both local and international platforms to be supervised by a government body while protecting the rights of consumers.