The ‘Lost’ Empire: EU Says ‘No’ To The King Of Indian Fruits

When the 28-member European Union imposed a ban on the import of the ‘king of fruits’ at a time when its production hits the peak, it must have taken a lot of conviction to execute the order. Although the strongest reaction came from the Indian side, what caught EU unawares is the widespread criticism from exporters, consumers and even lawmakers. Some are protesting the ban as they have to forfeit their annual chance to savour this succulent, sweet and aromatic fruit that dazzles with its golden-yellow-tinged-with-bright-orange hue. But lawmakers and policy advisors are worried because this may trigger a diplomatic row between the EU and India, one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The ban itself is not too relevant for a fruit that does not thrive on preservatives. In 2013, about 207 boxes of mangoes were found infested with fruit flies that were ‘not of European origin.’ Authorities in Brussels, who were inspecting the consignment, sent out panic signals.

This triggered off a discussion regarding the potential harm the fruit flies might cause if and when they are ‘unleashed’ in the EU nations. In fact, the situation was considered close to a pre-timed nuclear bomb ticking away somewhere, to wipe the life off the face of the EU nations. Soon after, an inquiry was conducted and the matter was ‘emphatically’ treated with more seriousness than anything else that ever came up in the trade relations and discussions over one whole year yielded the result. Indian Mangoes, no matter how godly they are, are to be kept at an arm’s length from the European Union Countries.

Strategically, it is worth taking note of the timing of the ban. It is mango season again and the production of mangoes this year has already been accounted for, with a huge margin for the bulk of the fruit to be sent offshore. But the most important aspect of the ban is that it is ‘temporary’ in nature. To make the whole thing a little smoother and politically correct, the ban also included some veggies – aubergines, two varieties of squash and a variety of leafs specifically used for Indian cooking.

As far as the ‘mango ban’ goes, the most metaphorical protest came from Keith Vaz, the Labour Party MP from Leicester, a region that hosts a ‘mango festival’ as an annual ritual. The prestigious event, well attended by the who’s who of the region, enjoys great solidarity as well. So the hurt was evident. But unfortunately, the dent was already made. Vaz, armed with a box of the most succulent mangoes, perhaps one from the last lot to arrive on the European shores, delivered those to 10 Downing Street – the residence of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron. The normal course of events followed and Cameron assured that he is the champion of healthy trade relationships with India and he would certainly help in this case, to the best of his abilities.

The ban on the king of fruits will remain in force till December 2015, in order to save the European salad crops, such as tomatoes and cucumbers. A newspaper in India jocularly interpreted this situation in its editorial and said that the EU nations were ‘giving up mangoes for salad.’ And what a trade-off that will be.

Interestingly, the UK alone imports around 16 million mangoes worth £6.3 million from India while its total mango market is worth £68 million. Other countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, China, Thailand and Pakistan also export mangoes to nations that come under the EU umbrella. However, Indian mangoes have achieved a near-mythical status and enjoy the global reputation of being the best among its peers. Nearly 30% of the juiciest and sweetest mangoes, grown in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri region, are exported, especially to the UK.

With this current ban on Indian mangoes, diplomatic relations are bound to suffer to an extent, but the common man, referred to as the aam aadmi in India, is not complaining. By the way, aam in Hindi language also means mango. Truly, the scorching summer of India becomes bearable for many regions just because there is the hope that mangoes will, sooner or later, help people shift focus from heat to sweet.

As a result of the EU ban on mangoes, the most coveted varieties including Hapuz, Langra and Dusheri, which would have found their way to foreign homes via chartered flights, have now entered the Indian markets, much to the joy of the middle-class households. The princely fruit, which usually costs an arm and a leg, is now quite affordable. That’s definitely good news as the mango-diplomacy reaches its pinnacle during the days of abundance and basketfuls are exchanged between families as a warm gesture. Thanks to the ban, Indian mangoes have only turned sweeter for the Indians this season. It is one of those rare occasions when a diplomatic crisis is actually not a crisis, for at least one of the countries involved.

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