KATHMANDU: The government has enforced a new set of vehicle emission standards aimed at curbing air pollution and improving environmental health.
The Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions standards have become mandatory for all motor vehicles and their components imported into the country with the publication of the Nepal Vehicle Emission Standards, 2025, in the Nepal Gazette by the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
As per the new emission standards, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and small four-wheelers (weighing up to 350 kg unladen) must meet Euro 5 standards. This includes scooters, motorcycles, rickshaws, and lightweight electric or petrol-powered compact vehicles.
Similarly, all larger four-wheelers, such as cars, delivery vans, microbuses and buses, must comply with the stricter Euro 6 standards.
However, certain categories of vehicles have been exempted. These include construction machinery such as tractors, power tillers, bulldozers, cranes, rollers, and excavators, as well as special-purpose military vehicles imported with a recommendation from the Ministry of Defense.
This marks the first major update in Nepal’s vehicle emission policy in 13 years. The previous regulation, which was introduced in 2012, allowed the import of vehicles meeting Euro 3 or equivalent standards.
Since Nepal imports most of the motor vehicles from countries like India and China, which have already enforced emission standards comparable to Euro 6 standards, this won’t have much impact on Nepal’s motor vehicle imports.
