Japan has reintroduced a ban on mango imports from India after nearly two decades, following the discovery of flaws in pest control and sterilization procedures by Japanese quarantine officials. The decision, announced by the Yokohama Plant Protection Association, means that shipments with inspection certificates issued after March 25, 2026, will no longer be accepted. The move affects premium Indian mango varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Langra, and Banganapalli, dealing a major blow to exporters this season.

Japan maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against harmful agricultural pests, particularly fruit flies, which it considers a serious threat to domestic crops. The country had previously banned Indian mangoes for similar reasons but lifted the restriction in 2006 after India implemented stricter quality control measures. During a March inspection at a vapor heat treatment center in Rehmanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Japanese officials found technical issues in the heat treatment and sterilization process, though neither side disclosed details.

Exporters fear the renewed ban could undermine international confidence in India’s agricultural quality standards and prompt concern among other importing nations, adding financial strain to farmers already hit by poor yields due to extreme weather and El Niño effects.