Days for Girls Nepal Hosts National Menstrual Health Product Standard & Stakeholder Engagement Conference

On November 20, 2025, Days for Girls Nepal, Days for Girls International, and the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), hosted the Nepal Menstrual Health Product Standard and Stakeholder Engagement Conference in Kathmandu. This hybrid event brought together menstrual health (MH) stakeholders from across Nepal, including representatives from the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM), Menstrual Health Management Partners' Alliance, researchers, international and local NGOs, and advocates dedicated to improving MH, to discuss the urgent need for menstrual product standards. The event particularly focused on the International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee 338 (ISO TC 338) Menstrual Product Standard, because currently, there is no global menstrual product standard. 

Need for Reusable Product Standards in Nepal 

Several presentations highlighted the critical role standards play in ensuring menstrual products meet safety, quality, and performance requirements. Dr. Ulrike Ryll, a Product Manager, from SIS shared the development of the ISO TC 338 standard, explaining its relevance and how global standards can bolster national efforts. Discussions emphasized the unique opportunity for Nepal and other countries to actively contribute to shaping this ISO standard, ensuring it addresses each country’s specific needs through their involvement.

While Nepal has a disposable pad standard, it has no standards for any reusable menstrual products. Participating in ISO TC 338 is one way to work towards an adoptable standard suitable in the Nepal context and beyond. Maya Khaitu, Country Director of Days for Girls Nepal said, “Bringing together diverse stakeholders at this conference to discuss the need for a menstrual product standard is a crucial step to ensure that products used in Nepal are safe and effective. Nepal’s support of the ISO TC 338 will help advance MH standards across the country and protect the health of all users.”

Spotlighting Menstrual Health Work in Nepal

In the afternoon, presentations highlighted impactful MH projects and research happening in Nepal. Days for Girls Nepal shared qualitative findings from women and girls in two districts on MH interventions, including the government’s free pad distribution policy. A key insight is that interviews expressed the need for well-designed, safe, and reliable menstrual products, emphasizing that now is the right time for Nepal to establish standards for all categories of menstrual products.

WaterAid Nepal presented insights from a national policy review showing how product standards can expand safe product choice, and Untold Period Stories urged for government and other stakeholders not to overlook menstrual waste management, examining it through an environmental law lens. Dr. Ulrike Ryll noted, “Gathering at the conference with the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology and other stakeholders, and learning about the menstrual health work happening in Nepal, gave me valuable insights into the ongoing efforts and challenges within the country.”

Participants also worked in groups on a stakeholder mapping activity to identify gaps and opportunities to maximize collective impact for MH in Nepal.

Next Steps for Standards

Participants left the conference with a clear understanding that Nepal’s participation in developing the ISO TC 338 menstrual product standard is critical to ensure the standard reflects the country’s unique context and drives progress toward safe, accessible, high-quality products for all who need them.

NBSM committed to supporting manufacturers to obtain the testing needed to ensure safe product choices and expressed strong interest in exploring how they can engage more directly in ISO TC 338, so Nepal’s needs are represented in the development of the new standard. 

Days for Girls Nepal and WaterAid Nepal will lead advocacy meetings with multiple stakeholders and work closely with NBSM to ensure national standards cover all menstrual product choices, while encouraging the standards bureau’s active involvement in ISO TC 338.

Call to Action

Watch the conference recording HERE and learn more about the ISO TC 338 menstrual product standards HERE.