Indian Mango Shipments Face Rejection At Multiple US Airports Customs Over Documentation Issues

New Delhi, May 19 (KNN) US authorities have rejected at least 15 mango shipments from India at multiple airports including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta due to documentation irregularities.

Exporters were given the choice of either destroying the fruit in the US or returning it to India. Given the perishable nature of mangoes and the substantial costs involved in return shipping, all exporters opted to dispose of the shipments locally.

The United States represents India's primary export destination for mangoes, making these incidents particularly significant for the trade relationship.

Considering the perishable nature of the product and expenses linked to destruction or re-exportation, traders anticipate losses of approximately USD 500,000.

A USDA communication to an affected exporter indicated that US Customs and Border Protection refused entry due to incorrectly issued PPQ203.

The notice specified that the shipment must be re-exported or destroyed, while clarifying that the US government would not bear costs for remedial measures for this shipment.

The irradiation procedure takes place at a facility in Navi Mumbai, overseen by a US Department of Agriculture representative who validates the PPQ203 form essential for mango exports to the US.

"We are being penalised for mistakes made at the irradiation facility," an exporter said. Another exporter, whose consignment was detained at Los Angeles airport during May 9-11 before receiving destruction orders, was notified that the shipment failed to satisfy the entry requirement regarding mandatory irradiation treatment.

This exporter denied the allegation, asserting that the irradiation procedure was completed and the PPQ203 form was issued following treatment.

"How can we receive the form if the treatment was never done? And without that form, issued by none other than the USDA officer, the mangoes couldn't even have been cleared for loading at Mumbai airport," he said.

When asked about the specifics of the case, including the quantity of affected mangoes and documentation discrepancies, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Authority (APEDA) chairman's office responded, "The matter pertains to the shipment of mangoes from USDA approved facility, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) located at Vashi, Mumbai. Hence inputs may be sought from them."

APEDA operates under the ministry of commerce and industry. MSAMB did not provide any response to email enquiries.

(KNN Bureau)