Kathmandu: The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection, under Nepal’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, has told every business selling goods or services online to register with the government. Unregistered operators, it warns, will face legal consequences.

The notice cites two laws already in force: the Electronic Commerce Act of 2081 and the E-Commerce Directive of 2082. Consumers have a constitutional right to quality goods and services and these rules exist to protect that, the department says.

The law’s definition of e-commerce covers a lot of ground. It includes the raw materials used in consumer products, plus services like electricity, drinking water, telephone, IT, health, education, consulting, transport, tourism, entertainment, banking, insurance, legal work, auditing and engineering. If a business buys or sells through a computer, phone, app, website or social media marketplace, it falls under the law.

Section 4 of the Act requires setting up a proper electronic platform before starting operations. Section 5 requires registering that platform with the department’s online portal.

Complaints have been piling up, the department says: people getting cheated, misled or sold poor quality goods through various apps, sites and payment systems. That’s what prompted the notice.

Every business and stakeholder trading through an electronic platform is being told to complete registration and follow the law before continuing to operate.

Anyone who skips registration or keeps running an unregistered or illegal platform, risks strict action under the E-Commerce Act and other applicable laws.