XoraPro Market

Prohibited and restricted goods

Draft of 13 Aswin 2083 BS (2026-09-29 AD)

Draft, under legal review

Goods that are not allowed on XoraPro Market

Nepali law forbids some goods to be traded online, and others need a licence (Electronic Commerce Act 2081 s.3(2), s.13). XoraPro Market also keeps some goods off to protect buyers. This list forms part of the seller agreement.

Banned means the goods may not appear on any public XoraPro page. Not on the shared Market means the goods may stay on the shop's own website but are not shown in the Market directory, search or apps. Licence declared means the goods appear on the shop's own website and QR menu only when the shop declares in XoraPro that it holds the licence the law requires; the shop is responsible for holding it and for following the law. Licence on file means the goods appear on the shared Market only when XoraPro staff have seen that licence.

Goods: Tobacco and nicotine: cigarettes, bidi, cigars, surti, khaini, gutkha, pan masala with tobacco, hookah tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes, nicotine pouches
Rule: Banned, including on the shop's own website, product photos and share previews
Why: Tobacco Products (Control and Regulatory) Act 2068 s.10 bans disseminating information about tobacco products through the internet; s.11(7) bans display. For vapes and nicotine pouches with no tobacco leaf: board policy and Google Play policy; whether the Act covers them is unverified.

Goods: Alcohol: beer, wine, spirits, local liquor
Rule: Not on the shared Market. On the shop's own website and QR menu only if the shop has declared its liquor licence (XoraPro staff may also check it), the buyer confirms they are 18 or over at checkout, the rider checks age at handover, and the product is a plain catalogue entry (name, size, price, product photo; no offers, discounts, banners, "featured" or "best seller"), left out of share previews, emails, messages, social posts and all XoraPro promotion. If our lawyer advises that such a page is an advertisement, alcohol leaves shop websites the same day
Why: Public Health Service Act 2075 s.45(1) (no alcohol advertisement; fine on the broadcaster, s.53(d)); Electronic Commerce Act s.13 (licence; which licence and which authority is unverified). Advertisement (Regulation) Act 2076 and the Advertisement Board notice of 10 March 2023 against alcohol advertising in digital media: secondary sources only.

Goods: Medicines that need a prescription, and narcotic or psychotropic medicines
Rule: Banned on every public page: the shop's own website and QR menu, the shared Market and its search, and every basket and order. A medicine whose schedule the pharmacy has not set is treated as one that needs a prescription until it is set. The shop's page says: "Prescription medicines are not sold online. Please see the pharmacist at the shop with your prescription."
Why: Advertisement (Regulation) Act 2076 s.5(1)(nga) (no advertisement about prescription-only medicines); Drugs Act 2035 s.17(2), (3) (sold only on a prescription, by or in the presence of a pharmacist); s.13

Goods: Over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and cosmetics that make health claims
Rule: Licence declared for the shop's own website and QR menu: the shop declares both the Department of Drug Administration's registration certificate and its permission to provide an online service; licence on file for the shared Market, where over-the-counter medicines are shown once XoraPro staff have seen the licence; no health claim the shop cannot prove. Prescription-only medicines are never on a public page
Why: Drug Sale and Distribution Code 2080 cl.8(10) (online service permission); Advertisement Board notice of 18 June 2026 (secondary); Consumer Protection Act 2075 s.16(2)(b), (c)(4); s.13

Goods: Weapons, ammunition, explosives and fireworks
Rule: Banned on every public page, the shop's own website and QR menu included. A shop that holds the licence the law requires (for fireworks, the Chief District Officer's explosives licence) may declare it in XoraPro for sales at its own till
Why: Arms and Ammunition Act 2019 s.3; Explosives Act 2018 s.4; Advertisement (Regulation) Act 2076 s.5(1)(gha) (no advertisement promoting the sale of weapons or explosives)

Goods: Narcotic drugs and items for using them
Rule: Banned
Why: s.3(2)

Goods: Fake, counterfeit, "replica", "first copy" or "master copy" goods, and any goods using a brand without the brand owner's permission
Rule: Banned
Why: Consumer Protection Act s.16(2)(i); Advertisement (Regulation) Act 2076 on trademarks (secondary summary)

Goods: Expired goods, and goods relabelled with a new date
Rule: Banned
Why: Consumer Protection Act s.16(2)(l)

Goods: Lottery tickets and gambling
Rule: Banned
Why: Advertisement (Regulation) Act 2076 (secondary summary)

Goods: Adult or obscene material
Rule: Banned
Why: Electronic Transactions Act 2063 s.47 (secondary summary)

Goods: Government documents, identity documents, currency
Rule: Banned
Why: Board decision

Goods: Wild animals and their parts
Rule: Banned
Why: Board decision; the lawyer is asked to name the Act

Goods: LPG cylinders, agrochemicals and pesticides, mobile phones, gold and jewellery
Rule: Licence declared: shown on the shop's own website only when the shop declares it holds any licence the law requires (for pesticides, the province committee's sale licence)
Why: s.13. The board has not checked which of these need a licence and does not guess.

Goods: Services such as medical, legal or tuition services
Rule: Not on the Market in this first stage
Why: Board decision: goods only for now

The law behind each rule

For each group of goods, the Act, its Nepali title and year, the sections that apply and the licence and office. Prepared by XoraPro's internal legal team from the official texts read on 30 September 2026, not legal advice. A line marked "not yet confirmed by our lawyer" was not confirmed in the official text. Each business is responsible for holding its own licences and following the law for what it sells; XoraPro provides the software and the Market platform. In the app, the owner sees each section in English and Nepali under "Why this needs a licence".

Goods: Alcohol
The Act: Liquor Act, 2031 (1974) (मदिरा ऐन, २०३१); Liquor Rules, 2033 (मदिरा नियमहरु, २०३३) (English title not yet confirmed); Hotel Management and Sale and Distribution of Liquor (Control) Act, 2023 (1966) (होटेल व्यवस्था तथा मदिराको बिक्री वितरण (नियन्त्रण) ऐन, २०२३) (English title not yet confirmed); Excise Duty Act, 2058 (2002) (अन्तः शुल्क ऐन, २०५८); Excise Rules, 2059 (अन्तःशुल्क नियमावली, २०५९) (English title not yet confirmed); Public Health Service Act, 2075 (2018) (जनस्वास्थ्य सेवा ऐन, २०७५); Electronic Commerce Act, 2081 (2025) (विद्युतिय व्यापार (इ-कमर्स) ऐन, २०८१)
Sections: Liquor Act: s.4, s.4ka(2), s.4ka(3), s.6, s.6ga, s.13; Liquor Rules: s.3, s.6, s.10, s.11, Sch.2 conditions (ka)1, (ka)2 (not yet confirmed by our lawyer); Hotel Management and Sale and Distribution of Liquor (Control) Act: s.3(1), s.3(3), s.5(1)(ja), (jha), s.7, s.8, s.10; Excise Duty Act: s.4gha(2), s.4gha(4), s.4nga (not yet confirmed by our lawyer), s.8(1), 9(1), 9(3), s.9(4), 9(5)(kha), s.16(1)(gha), s.16(4)(kha), s.16(4)(nga); Excise Rules: s.13(4), Sch.3 (ka)2, Sch.2 item 2(ka), Sch.2 item 2(kha), Sch.3 (kha); Public Health Service Act: s.45(1), s.52(n), 53(d); Electronic Commerce Act: s.13(1), (2), s.3(2) (not yet confirmed by our lawyer)
Licence and office: Excise licence to sell liquor: Inland Revenue Office (excise officer), Inland Revenue Department. Federal, not province or ward. Renewal: Every fiscal year, within Shrawan (or three years at once); late fines 25 to 100 per cent.

Goods: Tobacco and nicotine. Never on a public page
The Act: Tobacco Products (Control and Regulatory) Act, 2068 (2011) (सूर्तिजन्य पदार्थ (नियन्त्रण र नियमन गर्ने) ऐन, २०६८); Tobacco Products (Control and Regulatory) Rules, 2068 (सूर्तिजन्य पदार्थ (नियन्त्रण र नियमन गर्ने) नियमावली, २०६८) (English title not yet confirmed); Excise Duty Act, 2058 (2002) (अन्तः शुल्क ऐन, २०५८); Excise Rules, 2059 (अन्तःशुल्क नियमावली, २०५९) (English title not yet confirmed)
Sections: Tobacco Products (Control and Regulatory) Act: s.3(1)(H), (J), s.4(1), (2), s.10, s.11(1), (2), s.11(3), s.11(5), (6), (7), s.17(5), 18, 25; Tobacco Products (Control and Regulatory) Rules: s.3, s.10, s.11, s.13; Excise Duty Act: s.8(1), 9(1), 9(3), s.4gha(3), s.16(4)(kha); Excise Rules: Sch.2 item 3, Sch.3 (gha)
Licence and office: Excise licence to sell cigarettes and tobacco and nicotine goods (retail or wholesale): Inland Revenue Office (excise officer), Inland Revenue Department. Federal. Renewal: Every fiscal year, within Shrawan.

Goods: Medicines
The Act: Drugs Act, 2035 (1978) (औषधि ऐन, २०३५) (English title not yet confirmed); Drug Sale and Distribution Code, 2080 (औषधि बिक्री-वितरण संहिता, २०८०) (English title not yet confirmed); Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 (2019) (विज्ञापन (नियमन गर्ने) ऐन, २०७६)
Sections: Drugs Act: s.10, s.10ka, s.11(1)(gha), 11(2), 11(3), 11(5), s.17(2), 17(3), s.18(2), s.19(1), 19(2), s.13, 29, 30, s.34(1), 34(2), 34(3), 35(1); Drug Sale and Distribution Code: cl.8(9), cl.8(10) (not yet confirmed by our lawyer); Advertisement (Regulation) Act: s.5(1)(nga), s.5(1)(cha)
Licence and office: Drug shop registration certificate: Department of Drug Administration (औषधि व्यवस्था विभाग). Federal. Renewal: Every three years, before expiry; within 30 days after at double fee (Drugs Act s.11 as amended 2082). DDA permission to provide an online service: Department of Drug Administration. Federal. Renewal: Not stated in the texts read.

Goods: Weapons, explosives and fireworks. Never on a public page; sold only at the shop's till, under its declared licence
The Act: Arms and Ammunition Act, 2019 (हातहतियार खरखजाना ऐन, २०१९); Explosives Act, 2018 (विष्फोटक पदार्थ ऐन, २०१८); Muluki Criminal Code, 2074 (मुलुकी अपराध संहिता, २०७४) (English title not yet confirmed); Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 (2019) (विज्ञापन (नियमन गर्ने) ऐन, २०७६)
Sections: Arms and Ammunition Act: s.3, s.3ka, s.10 (not yet confirmed by our lawyer); Explosives Act: s.2(ka), s.4, s.4ka; Muluki Criminal Code: s.130, s.131, s.139; Advertisement (Regulation) Act: s.5(1)(gha)
Licence and office: Arms and ammunition licence: Chief District Officer, District Administration Office. Renewal: As the rules prescribe (rules not read). (not yet confirmed by our lawyer) Explosives licence (needed to sell fireworks): Chief District Officer, District Administration Office. Renewal: As prescribed (rules not read). (not yet confirmed by our lawyer)

Goods: Narcotic drugs. Never on a public page
The Act: Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 (1976) (लागू औषध (नियन्त्रण) ऐन, २०३३) (English title not yet confirmed); Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 (2019) (विज्ञापन (नियमन गर्ने) ऐन, २०७६)
Sections: Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act: s.4, s.5, 5ka, s.14(1)(gha), 14(1)(chha), 14(1)(jha), s.15; Advertisement (Regulation) Act: s.5(1)(ka)
Licence and office: No licence makes these lawful to sell.

Goods: Gambling and lotteries. Never on a public page
The Act: Muluki Criminal Code, 2074 (मुलुकी अपराध संहिता, २०७४) (English title not yet confirmed); Lottery Act, 2025 (चिठ्ठा ऐन, २०२५) (English title not yet confirmed); Consumer Protection Act, 2075 (2018) (उपभोक्ता संरक्षण ऐन, २०७५); Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 (2019) (विज्ञापन (नियमन गर्ने) ऐन, २०७६)
Sections: Muluki Criminal Code: s.125(1), 125(2), s.125 explanation (2), s.125(4)-(6); Lottery Act: s.2, s.3(2)(gha), s.7; Consumer Protection Act: s.16(2)(d), 38(f), 40(3)(b); Advertisement (Regulation) Act: s.5(1)(kha)
Licence and office: Government permission to run a lottery: Government of Nepal, or the officer it names (Lottery Act s.3, s.6). Renewal: Per lottery.

Goods: Fake and counterfeit goods. Never on a public page
The Act: Consumer Protection Act, 2075 (2018) (उपभोक्ता संरक्षण ऐन, २०७५); Patent, Design and Trade Mark Act, 2022 (1965) (पेटेण्ट डिजायन र ट्रेडमार्क ऐन, २०२२) (English title not yet confirmed); Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 (2019) (विज्ञापन (नियमन गर्ने) ऐन, २०७६)
Sections: Consumer Protection Act: s.16(2)(i), 38(f), 40(3)(b), s.16(2)(l), 38(e), 39(1)(b); Patent, Design and Trade Mark Act: s.16(2), s.19, s.2(gha) (not yet confirmed by our lawyer); Advertisement (Regulation) Act: s.5(2)(ja)
Licence and office: No licence makes these lawful to sell.

Goods: Pesticides, LPG, mobile phones, gold
The Act: Pesticides Management Act, 2076 (2019) (जीवनाशक विषादी व्यवस्थापन ऐन, २०७६) (English title not yet confirmed)
Sections: Pesticides Management Act: s.4, s.8, s.10, s.32, 33, 36 (not yet confirmed by our lawyer)
Licence and office: Pesticide sale licence: Province Pesticide Management Committee (province level; Gandaki Province for Lamjung). Renewal: Under province law, not read (UNVERIFIED). LPG dealer or seller licence: UNVERIFIED (secondary: Nepal Oil Corporation dealership; Department of Commerce certification under a 'Gas and Petroleum Regulation Order'). Renewal: UNVERIFIED. (not yet confirmed by our lawyer) Mobile phones: NTA type approval and IMEI registration (importer's duty): Nepal Telecommunications Authority. Renewal: n/a. (not yet confirmed by our lawyer) Gold and jewellery: no seller licence found: UNVERIFIED. Renewal: n/a. (not yet confirmed by our lawyer)

Words that trigger a review

Some words in a product's name or description, in English, romanised Nepali or Nepali, send the product to our staff for a check before it can appear on the Market. The product is hidden from the Market while it is checked, and the shop is told why. A check is not an accusation: a "tobacco-free" snack or a "wine red" kurta will be released.

If you see something that should not be here

Use Report a problem on the product or shop page. We aim to hide a reported banned or unsafe listing within 24 hours of the report while we look into it, and to tell the shop why. The shop can ask for a review within 7 days.

What happens to a shop that lists banned goods

The listing is removed and the shop is warned. Repeated breaches within 12 months take the shop off the Market for 30 days, and then for 12 months. Fraud, impersonation or a banned category can mean removal at once. This never touches the shop's own books or invoices.

This list changes

The law and Government notices change. We update this page when they do and tell shops before a change affects their products, unless the law requires faster action.

About XoraPro Market

Platform: XoraPro Market
Operated by: M/s N.P. Xora Private Limited, Company Registration No. 387740/82/83, Office of the Company Registrar
Registered office: Samakhusi, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kathmandu, Nepal
Type: XoraPro Market is an intermediary e-commerce platform operated by N.P. Xora Private Limited. Each shop sells, invoices and delivers its own goods.
PAN: 623570591 (NPXora is not VAT-registered)
Contact: Email: support@xorapro.com
Complaints: Complaints and grievances: XoraPro Market Grievance Desk, M/s N.P. Xora Private Limited, Samakhusi, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kathmandu, Nepal. Email: support@xorapro.com. Or use "Report a problem" on your order page. We register every complaint at once and reply in writing within 15 days.