The government has made registration compulsory for e-commerce businesses in an effort to regulate and formalize the country’s rapidly growing digital marketplace.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has issued the E-commerce Directive 2026, requiring all businesses engaged in buying and selling goods or services online to register with the government system. Entrepreneurs must submit their details through the “Electronic Business Listing” portal operated by the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection.
To complete the registration process, companies are required to provide documents including their business registration certificate, Permanent Account Number (PAN), proof of domain ownership and hosting agreement, privacy policy, and a cyber security test report.
Online businesses have expanded significantly across the country in recent years. However, many have been operating without formal registration, raising concerns about consumer protection and regulatory oversight.
Under the new directive, existing e-commerce platforms have been given seven days to comply and regularize their operations. Failure to meet the deadline may result in legal action by the department.
The directive further mandates that platforms immediately suspend transactions and notify the DoCSCP in cases of unauthorized access, data breaches, or system malfunctions. Businesses may resume operations only after resolving such issues.
Additionally, e-commerce firms must use digital payment gateways approved by Nepal Rastra Bank.
Although the government enacted the E-commerce Act 2025 last year, its implementation had been delayed due to the absence of detailed regulations. The law requires online businesses to safeguard consumer data through encrypted systems and adopt measures to prevent data leakage and misuse.
The directive also calls for the formation of a committee to handle consumer grievances. If companies fail to resolve complaints, consumers may escalate their cases to the DoCSCP for further action.
