Kathmandu - The Nepalese government is reportedly preparing to grant permission for the production and distribution of Red Bull, which has been banned for the past four years due to concerns about adverse effects on public health. The decision to reconsider the ban on Red Bull and similar energy drinks was made by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies in 2076 BS. The ban was originally imposed to control the import of energy drinks with potentially harmful ingredients.

According to Section 69, Number 11, Part 5 of the publication dated 2076/03/02, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies had imposed a complete ban on the import of energy drinks, including Red Bull, with additives like caffeine and synthetic drinks with similar properties. The ban also applied to other beverages. The ban was intended to counteract the negative impact on public health, and the government has been reviewing its decision.

The Khetan Group has recently established Saras Beverages in Nepal, and under this brand, they have begun importing Red Bull from Thailand for distribution. Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat inaugurated the official production of Red Bull by Saras Beverages in Nawalparasi last December. It is noteworthy that the Khetan Group has invested significantly in setting up Saras Beverages for the production and distribution of Red Bull.

Concerns have been raised about whether Saras Beverages has obtained the necessary licenses for the production and distribution of Red Bull. However, as of now, the Food Quality and Standards Department has not issued any official statement regarding the issuance of a license to Red Bull Nepal. Gajendra Kumar Thakur, Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Supplies, suggested that questions about the previous ban could be answered by examining old files.

It is important to mention that Red Bull, along with energy drinks in Denmark, Norway, France, and Lithuania, remains banned from public places due to its high caffeine content, which is considered potentially harmful to health. The final decision on granting permission for Red Bull production and distribution in Nepal will be made after thorough consideration by the Food Quality and Standards Department. The Department Director, Dr. Matina Joshi Vaidya, has not commented on this matter.