The government has raised the customs duty on helmets from 15% to 20%. This change is part of the new economic bill and affects helmets used by motorbike and scooter riders, as well as workers in construction and related industries.
For the first time, rafting and water tourism operators can import up to 100 helmets with only a 5% customs duty. This special concession aims to support their business needs.
In the last 10 months, Nepal imported helmets worth over NPR 673 million. A total of about 6.19 million helmets entered the country, with 4.55 million coming from India alone, according to customs data.
This increase in customs duty may make helmets more expensive for everyday users, but businesses in specific sectors like rafting get some relief.
