Japan bans mango imports from India after the Japanese officials found lapses in the pest-control process at Indian treatment centers during inspections. Premium mango varieties like Langra, Kesar and Alphonso are banned by Japan. This has caused disruption of mango exports during the peak summer season.
First Suspension After 20 Years
This suspension marks the first prohibition in two decades. Earlier, Japan had suspended mangoes due to fruit fly issues but lifted the ban in 2006. Japanese officials have raised concerns about whether mango shipments are meeting the plant health standards of the country. Japan has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards fruit flies that is a threat to domestic agriculture. Every time, Japan sends authorities to inspect the Vapour Heat Treatment facility of India that is responsible for disinfecting mangoes before their export.
Vapour Heat Treatment is a procedure where mangoes are exposed to humid air conditions to kill fruit fly larvae or pests. According to sources, this year's inspection was conducted in Rehmanpur in UP, and Japanese authorities found deficiencies related to disinfection and fumigation processes at the center. Technical problems are not disclosed yet, but Japan's Yokohama Plant Protection Association has announced that Indian mango shipments after 25 March 2026 will not be accepted.
This has put a lot of pressure on Indian mango farmers from Maharashtra, as there is 85-90 percent severe crop loss this year because of extreme weather conditions. And now the exporters say the Japanese ban on Indian mangoes will reduce their earnings during the most important mango trade season this year.
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