The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) got a green signal for the export of the mangoes, last night.

The first and a small consignment of `Alphonso' and `Kesar' varieties of mangoes consisting of 150 boxes has been processed today at the Lasalgaon food irradiation plant in Maharashtra of BARC/BRIT units of the Department of Atomic Energy.

"The consignment is ready after irradiation process to go to Mumbai any moment for export to New York this evening cargo flight," BARC Food Technology Chief A K Sharma, who is stationed at Lasalgaon for the purpose, told PTI.

"We got the certificate of approval from American Plant Health Inspection services of the US Department of Agriculture last night and today we got the first customer," he said.

US stopped import of mangoes 18-years back as they felt that Indian farmers were using too much pesticides, according to Agricultural Products Export Development Authority.

However, the import was revived after a request made by President George W Bush after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi last year.

"The food irradiation plant at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra has been chosen for preservation of mangoes to fulfil the quarantine requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture and experts from India and US worked on the necessary protocols," BRIT Cheif Executive A K Kohli said.