After 20-years, Japan finally lifts ban on import of Indian mangoes. An official statement from Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has formally communicated the decision to the Union Government. Japan had banned Indian mangoes in 1986 on suspected pest infestation by fruit flies. Indian exporters of fruits can now move to access lucrative Japanese market.

Earlier this year, A Japanese technical team visited India and satisfied itself about safety aspects of Indian mangoes. The varieties that can now be imported by Japan are: Alphonso, Banganapalli, Kesar, Langra, Chausa and Malika. These are grown in pre-identified areas of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, according to the communication from Japan.

Since 1986, when Japan imposed ban on import of Indian mangoes Indian Agricultural Research Institute and other research bodies worked on eliminating the risk of fruit flies and came up with vapour heat treatment. This treatment was found to be effective way back in 1998 and the Japanese authorities too approved of it. But subsequently, Japan raised the issue of a new fruit fly. Finally, on June 23' 2006 Japan formally lifted the two-decade old ban.