India-US dispute over rejected mango shipments

After the US rejected 15 shipments of Indian mangoes over procedural lapses, Indian officials raised concerns about protocol not being followed by US inspectors. The issue, which affected around 25 tonnes of premium mangoes, has since been brought under control.

Tensions have risen between Indian and US regulatory authorities after the US rejected 15 mango consignments from India, citing procedural lapses during the irradiation process. Indian officials have contested the move, accusing US inspectors of skipping standard protocols, which led to the unnecessary rejection of nearly 25 tonnes of premium-quality mangoes.

These mangoes, sourced from 10 different Indian exporters, were treated at a US-approved irradiation facility in Mumbai under the supervision of American inspectors. However, the rejections were communicated directly to US authorities, bypassing the Mumbai facility. This prompted criticism from Maharashtra’s agriculture and export officials, who claimed the due process was not followed.

The rejections reportedly stemmed from incomplete recording of key data during treatment. Officials argue that these were minor lapses that could have been addressed immediately at the facility rather than leading to a blanket rejection. “Proper communication and timely reporting to the local facility could have prevented this issue. The mangoes were of export-grade quality and met the usual phytosanitary standards,” said a senior Maharashtra official.

S.B. Warrior, food technologist and former BARC scientist, commented, “It is unlikely that the US would have taken such a drastic step of rejecting entire shipments merely due to documentation errors caused by their own officials. The mangoes were of premium quality, and there were no issues with the produce itself.”

An internal inquiry is now underway to identify the exact procedural errors and avoid future mishaps. The Mumbai irradiation facility resumed operations on May 10, and between May 11 and 18, over 53,000 boxes of mangoes were exported successfully to the US, indicating that the issue is now under control.

Despite the setback, mango exports to the US have grown by 130% to US$ 10 million this year. Authorities remain hopeful that ongoing discussions will help resolve the dispute and ensure continued access for Indian varieties like Alphonso and Kesar.