Industry loses access to Japanese market after quarantine inspectors reportedly find issues with pest-control protocols
Japan has suspended imports of Indian mangoes for the first time in almost 20 years after concerns were apparently raised during an inspection at a vapour heat treatment (VHT) facility.
The ban affects premium varieties including Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli, which are exported every year, with the peak season running from April to June.
Access was reportedly suspended after Japanese quarantine officials visited a VHT facility in Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
Under the export protocol, Indian mangoes must undergo VHT to ensure mangoes are free of pests and fruit fly larvae before shipment.
According to local media reports, inspectors found deficiencies in fumigation and disinfection measures during a visit to the facility in Rehmanpur in March.
Following this, the Yokohama Plant Protection Association announced that mango shipments certified after 25 March 2026 would not be accepted.
The notice added that access would remain suspended until Japan was satisfied that operational standards had improved.
Mounting challenges
The ban comes as a further setback to India’s mango export industry, which has been grappling with challenges on several fronts.
In Maharashtra’s Konkan region, heatwave conditions reportedly damaged the Alphonso mango crop this year.
Exporters have also been dealing with rising freight costs, shipping delays and container shortages because of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
India exported almost 30,000 tonnes or mangoes to global markets in the 2024/25 fiscal year valued at US$56.5m, according to export figures cited by the Economic Times. Exports of fresh and processed mangoes to Japan were valued at around US$1.54m, with Gujarat’s Kesar variety making up the largest share of shipments.
While Japan is a relatively small export market for Indian mangoes, exporters say it is an important premium market, paying relatively high prices for fruit which meets strict quality specifications.
This is not the first time India has banned Indian mangoes. In 1986, imports were halted over concerns related to fruit fly infestation. The restrictions were only lifted in 2006 following years of inspections, scientific assessments and quarantine improvements. Indian authorities introduced VHT systems, conducted extensive pest surveys and upgraded infrastructure to meet Japanese standards.
Under the existing protocol, India had access for six varieties – Alphonso, Kesar, Banganapalli, Langra, Chausa and Malika. The mangoes must be supplied from approved facilities in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
