First ban on Indian mangos by Japan after twenty years. Japan had banned mangoes due to fruit fly issues, as it has a strict zero-tolerance policy and there is an agreement between India and Japan. This ban was later lifted in 2006 after India followed strict treatment standards. Now, Japanese officials have raised concerns over the same issue after two decades.
Before the Indian mango export, Japanese officials visit India to inspect the VHT that disinfects mangoes before export. Vapor heat treatment is a process that kills fruit flies in controlled hot conditions. This year, when Japanese officials visited the VHT in UP, they found technical issues in the disinfecting process. After their visit, the Japan Yokohama Plant Protection Association announced that they won't accept mango shipments from India after 25th March. This incident has put pressure on Indian mango farmers, as, due to climatic conditions, they have to face losses, and the Japanese ban would further impact their earnings and cause them to bear losses during the peak mango trade season.
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