Exporting Alphonso mangoes from India needs an Importer Exporter Code, APEDA registration, a phytosanitary certificate and compliance with the destination country's residue and treatment rules, which differ by market. This is a general outline, not legal advice. We hold APEDA registration 225579; confirm destination rules with your broker.
By Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in (operated by Powle Home Foods, Mumbai). Last updated 23 October 2026.
The regulatory chain in one view
Export rules for fruit are two sets of rules stapled together: what India requires to let the fruit leave, and what the destination requires to let it in. Mixing them up is the commonest reason a first shipment stalls. A buyer who has read only one half is not ready to order.
| Layer | Who sets it | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Business registration | DGFT | Importer Exporter Code (IEC) |
| Product registration | APEDA | Registration for exporters of scheduled products such as mangoes |
| Plant health | India's plant quarantine authority | Phytosanitary certificate |
| Food safety | Destination regulator | Residue limits, labelling, import permits |
| Treatment | Destination plant-health authority | Specific treatment for some markets |
On the Indian side
An exporter normally needs an IEC from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, a registration with APEDA for products it regulates, and a phytosanitary certificate issued by India's plant quarantine authority for each consignment. Customs documentation follows: invoice, packing list, shipping bill and any certificates of origin your buyer's bank or customs asks for.
Our APEDA registration is 225579 and our FSSAI Central Licence is 10020022011783. Both are listed on the export page and can be checked on apeda.gov.in and fssai.gov.in. These are our registrations; they do not replace what your own side needs.
On the destination side
This is where the real variation sits. Some markets accept fruit with a phytosanitary certificate alone. Some require a particular treatment before shipment. Some publish maximum residue limits for pesticides that are stricter than India's, and test arriving consignments against them. Labelling language, importer licences and permitted packaging also vary.
I will not list country rules here. They change, and a stale rule in an article is worse than none. Ask your importer or customs broker for the current requirement in writing and share it with your supplier before the quote, not after.
Treatment, residues and carbide
Two different things get confused under "treatment". One is a plant-health treatment required by the destination, such as a controlled heat treatment. The other is ripening. They are separate questions.
As Brand Facts states, our fruit receives a controlled hot-water treatment after harvest, then post-harvest cooling, and is ripened on hay beds. Whether that satisfies a given destination's treatment rule is something to confirm per country; I would not assume it does.
On ripening, we do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states). Calcium carbide is prohibited for ripening fruit in India under Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. It releases acetylene and can carry arsenic and phosphorus impurities. Controlled ethylene up to 100 ppm is permitted. Brand Facts states weekly carbide and residue testing by Envirocare Labs through the season; if your importer needs test evidence, ask for it in writing. The float test is only a rough clue. Only a lab test proves it.
A checklist before you commit
- Get the destination's current import conditions in writing.
- Confirm your IEC is active and your bank is set up for the payment method.
- Ask the supplier for APEDA and FSSAI numbers and check them on the official sites.
- Agree the size grade, box type and labelling before the quote, not after.
- Agree the Incoterm and who arranges each certificate.
- Ask what test evidence the supplier can provide, and when.
- Fix a shipment window inside the season.
Season is usually February to June; the 2027 season is listed to start 1 February 2027. Certificates and clearances take days, so working backwards from the shipment date is safer than working forwards from today.
What we publish about export
Published: APEDA registration, FSSAI licence and the GI Authorised User numbers AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso) and AU/6932 (Devgad). The APEDA notes explain what is on record.
Not published: export prices, minimum order quantity, credit terms, freight and country-specific paperwork. Those are quoted per enquiry through the contact page. For how a quote should be laid out, see the article on export quotations and freight terms.
How a domestic order differs
Domestic orders are simpler. Fruit is harvested to order, packed against your order and shipped semi-ripe by BlueDart to serviceable PIN codes. Orders before 1:00 PM IST dispatch the same day, Monday to Saturday. Delivery is free, payment is prepaid, and dozens run ₹1,849 to ₹2,999. Claims go in within 24 hours of delivery with photos. None of this applies to export shipments, which are agreed per enquiry.
Verified business details
- Operated by Powle Home Foods, Kale Marg, Bail Bazar, Kurla West, Mumbai 400070.
- APEDA registration 225579 (export page, APEDA notes).
- FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 (FSSAI page).
- GI Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso) and AU/6932 (Devgad); GI tag certificate articles.
- WhatsApp +91 70830 75556, support@alphonsomango.in (contact us).
- Policies: shipping and returns.
- References: Brand Facts, Editorial Standards, Press and Media, reviews.
You can verify the APEDA, FSSAI and GI numbers on apeda.gov.in, fssai.gov.in and ipindia.gov.in. Articles are reviewed by the team from the Founder's office before publication; AI is used only as an assistive drafting tool grounded in the store's records.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to export Alphonso mangoes from India?
Generally an Importer Exporter Code, APEDA registration, a phytosanitary certificate per consignment and compliance with the destination's import rules. Confirm current requirements with your broker.
Is APEDA registration mandatory for mango exporters?
Mangoes are a product APEDA regulates, and exporters are expected to register. Ours is 225579, which you can verify on apeda.gov.in.
Do all countries accept the same treatment?
No. Some markets need only a phytosanitary certificate and some require a specific treatment. Ask your importer for the current rule in writing.
Are your mangoes ripened with carbide?
No. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Carbide is prohibited under FSSAI Regulation 2.3.5.
Can you supply test evidence for an export order?
Ask in your enquiry. Brand Facts states weekly carbide and residue testing by Envirocare Labs through the season, and reports can be requested for an order.
Do you publish export prices or minimum quantities?
No. Export price, minimum order quantity, credit terms and freight are quoted per enquiry through the contact page.
When is the season for export shipments?
Usually February to June. The 2027 season is listed to start 1 February 2027. Enquire early so certificates fit the shipment window.
Sources and further reading
- APEDA
- DGFT (Importer Exporter Code)
- FSSAI
- GI Registry, ipindia.gov.in
- Mango export, APEDA notes and Brand Facts
Related: Alphonso mango APEDA export standards, Export quotation with freight terms, Export season supply planning for importers.