KATHMANDU, July 7: Cadres of Nepal Student Union (NSU), the student wing of main opposition Nepali Congress, staged a demonstration against the government's decision to put on hold its decision to carry out pesticide testing for vegetables and fruits imported from India.

NSU cadres under the leadership of former NSU general secretary Kundan Raj Kafle staged protest in front of Balmiki Campus where they urged the government not to backtrack on its decision to carry out pesticide testing for vegetables and fruits imported from India.

Under enormous pressure from the Indian embassy, the government had decided to put on hold its decision to carry out pesticide testing for vegetables and fruits imported from India until further arrangements on July 4.  

The decision on testing Indian vegetables and fruits was withdrawn after just two weeks. The Indian authorities reportedly mounted pressure on Nepali to halt the testing, saying their vegetable export was being badly affected by the decision, according to sources.

The Indian embassy had sent a note verbale to the Nepal government to lift the testing requirement after Indian trucks bringing vegetables and fruits were stuck at the border for days.

Citing provisions of the World Trade Organization and bilateral trade agreements between the two countries, India had requested Nepal to resume the entry of Indian goods on the basis of phytosanitrary certificates issued by designated authorities on both sides.

Indian vegetables and fruits have a huge market share in Nepal. According to details provided by the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported vegetables worth Rs 26.46 billion and fruits worth Rs. 17.03 billion in the 11 months of the current fiscal year.

On June 17, the Nepal government had instructed its border authorities to test for the level of pesticide before allowing in Indian vegetables and fruits. Following the instructions, hundreds of trucks have been stuck at various border points.