Why the US Rejected $500,000 Worth of Indian Mangoes

According to a report published by The Economic Times, US authorities turned away at least 15 shipments of Indian mangoes, citing documentation lapses. These rejections occurred upon arrival at key US airports including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta. The United States is the largest export destination for Indian mangoes, making the incident a matter of concern for Indian exporters.

The Role of the Irradiation Process

The centre of the controversy lies in discrepancies related to the irradiation process. This is a crucial step in the export protocol, involving the use of controlled doses of radiation to kill pests and extend the shelf life of fruits. As per the report, the affected mango shipments underwent this treatment in Mumbai on May 8 and 9.

Despite following the necessary procedure, exporters claimed the issue stemmed from faults at the irradiation facility and not from their side. One exporter stated, “We are being penalised for mistakes made at the irradiation facility,” as quoted by The Economic Times.

Read More: Amid Tariff Pause India’s Exports to the US Hit All-Time High in March 2025. 

Options Presented to Exporters

Upon rejection, exporters were offered two options by the authorities: either destroy the shipments or re-export them to India. Given the perishable nature of mangoes and the high costs involved in returning the goods, exporters opted to discard the consignments. The total estimated loss is around $500,000(₹4.2 crore).

Supervision and Regulatory Oversight

The irradiation was reportedly conducted under the supervision of an officer from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This added to the frustration among exporters, who believed they followed protocol under authorised supervision. However, the USDA later stated that it would not take any remedial action for the affected shipments.

Involvement of Indian Regulatory Authorities

The matter has drawn attention from Indian regulatory bodies. The chairman’s office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) responded to queries by pointing out that the facility responsible for the irradiation is the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) located in Vashi, Mumbai. The Economic Times report indicated that APEDA advised that further clarification be sought directly from the facility.

India’s Dominance in Global Mango Production

India remains the world’s largest producer of mangoes, cultivating over 1,000 different varieties. The country accounts for approximately 43% of global mango output, a figure that exceeds the combined production of the next 4 leading countries.

Conclusion 

While the incident may appear minor in scale, it underscores the importance of stringent compliance with export standards, especially when dealing with international markets. This development has raised concerns among Indian exporters and is likely to lead to a closer examination of processes within approved facilities.

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