India Faces Export Crisis as US Rejects Mango Shipment, Inspectors Alleged to Have Broken Protocol
India’s mango exports to the United States have faced a significant setback following the rejection of 15 consignments by US authorities, prompting widespread criticism from Indian exporters. The incident has led to the destruction of thousands of mangoes, resulting in substantial financial losses for the industry.
Indian authorities have accused the US of failing to adhere to established protocols during the inspection process, which has led to the rejection of shipments. The issue has sparked a heated debate over the handling of the shipments and the procedures followed by US inspectors.
According to statements from the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), a government organization responsible for the irradiation of mangoes, the US inspectors allegedly bypassed the standard notification process. Instead of communicating with the relevant agencies or notifying the facility beforehand, they directly reported the alleged issues to their senior offices in the United States, resulting in the rejection of the 15 consignments.
The MSAMB also highlighted that the losses could have been avoided if the US inspectors had raised concerns with facility officials before issuing the PPQ203, a critical requirement for mangoes bound for the US. The state organization confirmed that 25 metric tonnes of mangoes from 10 exporters were rejected, all of which underwent irradiation on May 8 and 9.
India’s mango exports to the US have seen a significant growth in value, increasing by 130% to $10 million in FY24, compared to $4.36 million in 2022-23. However, the recent rejection of shipments has raised concerns about the stability of this growing market.
The mango shipments underwent mandatory irradiation treatment at the MSAMB facility in Navi Mumbai, where fruits were subjected to controlled radiation doses for pest elimination. This process was monitored by a USDA-appointed officer. However, several government officials reported that the staff members on duty allegedly did not properly document the dosimeter measurements. A senior MSAMB official, requesting anonymity, confirmed that an investigation had been launched to identify the issues.
The MSAMB reported that from May 11 to May 18, exports resumed their regular pace, with 53,072 boxes (185.75 metric tonnes) of mangoes shipped to the US across 39 consignments from the Mumbai facility. The export operations are conducted under a Cooperative Service Agreement between APEDA and the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
The export protocol and operational guidelines are governed by the Irradiation operational work plan, jointly established by USDA-APHIS, the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and APEDA as the Co-operator. The process involves sourcing mangoes from registered farms, processing them at approved APEDA and NPPO packhouses, treating them with hot water fungicide, and finally irradiating them at USDA-certified facilities.
The incident has raised questions about the transparency and efficiency of the US inspection process, which has been a critical factor in the success of India’s mango exports to the US. The rejection of shipments has not only affected the financial health of the exporters but also raised concerns about the reliability of the US market for Indian mangoes.