What began as a success story in agricultural diplomacy has taken a sour turn. India’s mango exports to the United States, which saw an extraordinary 130% surge in value this fiscal year, faced a diplomatic and logistical jolt after 15 shipments were rejected by U.S. authorities in May over paperwork discrepancies.
According to trade data, mango exports to the U.S. climbed to $10.01 million in FY2024–25, up from $4.36 million the previous year, driven by growing demand for Indian varieties such as Alphonso and Kesar. However, the rejection of multiple consignments — despite undergoing the required irradiation process under U.S. supervision — has reignited scrutiny over compliance protocols and intergovernmental coordination.
The rejected shipments, collectively valued at nearly $500,000, were destroyed upon arrival in the U.S. due to improper documentation, specifically issues with the PPQ203 certificate — a critical document that verifies completion of irradiation, a mandatory requirement under U.S. import law to eliminate pests and ensure food safety.
From Growth to Grievance
The mishap comes under the purview of a longstanding Cooperative Service Agreement between India’s APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Under this framework, U.S. inspectors stationed in India supervise the irradiation of mangoes before export.
Exporters say the error originated at the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board’s (MSAMB) irradiation facility, not with the exporters themselves. “The treatment was done correctly, but the supporting documents weren’t issued in time,” said one Mumbai-based exporter, who asked not to be named.
Officials Point to Process Gaps
Indian authorities acknowledge the incident but have suggested that the U.S. inspectors may not have followed protocol by accepting the shipments at origin despite incomplete paperwork. Meanwhile, APEDA has launched a review and is working to standardize the certification process to ensure such lapses do not recur.
“The loss is not just financial,” said an APEDA official. “It damages trust in the export mechanism and affects our credibility in a growing market.”
The United States remains a strategic export destination for India’s agricultural sector, and mangoes — often dubbed “India’s gift to the world” — play an outsized role in seasonal diplomacy and trade soft power.
