New Delhi: Authorities in the United States recently rejected at least 15 shipments of mangoes from India.
The reason for the rejection was lapses in the documentation process while exporting, The Economic Times reported.
The US has been India’s largest export market for mangoes for several years. The recent export consignment to the US also seemed routine as it underwent mandatory irradiation process – a treatment that exposes the fruit to controlled doses of radiation to eliminate pests and extend shelf life — in Mumbai on May 8 and 9 before being exported by air.
However, upon arrival in the US, the shipments were turned away at Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta airports.
The exporters were instructed to destroy the cargo in the US, or re-export it to India.
All parties chose to discard the mangoes due to its perishable nature and high cost of transporting it back to India.
Exporters estimated losses at about $500,000 due to the rejection.
Exporters expressed concern, pointing out that the irradiation process is done at a Navi Mumbai facility, under the supervision of a US department of agriculture (USDA) officer, who certifies the PPQ203 form — a mandatory document for US-bound mangoes.
“We are being penalised for mistakes made at the irradiation facility,” one exporter was quoted as saying by The Economic Times.
A USDA notification to the exporters stated the shipment was denied entry by US Customs and Border Protection “due to incorrectly issued PPQ203,” adding that the US government won’t incur “remedial measures for this shipment”.
