• Source:JND
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India’s mango export season has taken a hit after US authorities rejected 15 shipments of the fruit due to documentation irregularities. The shipments, which were sent via air to major US entry points including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta, were turned away by the US Customs and Border Protection. Exporters have pegged their cumulative losses at approximately USD 500,000 (roughly Rs 4.28 crore).

The affected consignments had undergone irradiation on May 8 and 9 at a government-approved facility in Navi Mumbai. Irradiation is a mandatory treatment for mangoes being shipped to the US, aimed at eliminating pests and extending shelf life by exposing the fruit to controlled doses of radiation. Exporters claim the process was carried out under the supervision of a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) officer. The shipments were rejected upon arrival due to an incorrectly issued PPQ203 form, a phytosanitary document required for clearance.

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High Costs Force Exporters To Destroy Shipments

Following the rejection, exporters were given two options: re-export the mangoes back to India or destroy the cargo in the US. Given the perishable nature of the fruit and high return transport costs, exporters chose to discard the shipments.

“We are being penalised for mistakes made at the irradiation facility,” one disgruntled exporter told The Economic Times. The rejection notice from USDA clarified that “the US government won’t incur remedial measures for this shipment,” putting the burden squarely on Indian exporters.

The United States is India’s largest market for mangoes, with demand peaking between April and July. Exporters are concerned that such incidents not only cause financial losses but also dent the country’s reputation in international markets. According to reports, exporters are now urging Indian authorities to intervene and ensure that such documentation errors do not recur. They are also seeking clarification from the USDA to prevent similar issues in future shipments.

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