Follow the standard

Quality guidelines for dog chew open up more export opportunities.

Nepalis’ love for chhurpi is unmatched. Made from yak, cow or buffalo milk (sometimes mixed) using traditional techniques and cut into small cubes, this hard, fermented cheese gradually softens and gets chewier with every bite. Over the years, chhurpi, especially made for pets such as dogs and cats and known as ‘dog chew’, has seen remarkable export growth. In the previous fiscal year alone, the country exported Rs4.51 billion worth of the stuff. Of the total dog chews produced primarily in the eastern hill districts of Ilam, around 90 percent make it to Western countries. For instance, in the same year, the US imported more than 1,800 tonnes, followed by Canada, the UK and other countries. Despite this, Nepal for long lacked a quality standard for chhurpi, which hindered the product’s growth potential in a competitive global market. No more. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has just introduced quality standards for traditional Nepali foods, including chhurpi.