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APEDA Registration Certificate in India - Process & Fees
Exporters of agricultural and processed food products require the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) certificate to export their raw agricultural products and processed foods. APEDA acts as a regulatory body and verifies the documents and processes the application before issuing a licence to exporters. Exporters looking to export their product and avail themselves of various benefits from the government must obtain an APEDA certificate.
APEDA-registered exporters gain access to international markets and are required to adhere to making better food products with quality and safety considerations. Exporters are liable to financial incentives to focus on other areas of work. The certificate promotes exporters to comply with infrastructure and safety, and opens doors for participation in trade fairs. For floriculture, fruits, dairy products, jaggery, cashew nuts, spices, herbal products, and all such commodities, exporters need to obtain an APEDA certificate.
Exporters adapt to advanced programmes to comply with packaging and export procedures. With an APEDA licence, businesses get essential market information, such as trade data, and collect strategic foresight for their exports. The entire incorporation of the APEDA certificate is simplified. All you need to do is sign up on the APEDA site with crucial documents such as PAN details, a bank certificate, and a list of directors, submit the required fee, and get your APEDA certificate upon approval.
Apeda Certificate Sample
How to Apply for RCMC Registration with APEDA
Applicants filing the APEDA application shall fulfill three basic requirements: an active IEC, an updated IEC profile on the DGFT portal, and a valid DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign linked to the DGFT account. Each one is checked at submission. If any of these are missing, the application will not proceed forward.
- Sign in to the DGFT Portal and access the e-RCMC service: The application is filed online through the DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in. After login, the applicant opens the e-RCMC service and starts a fresh application.
- Verify the Information Auto-Fetched From the IEC Profile: Information is automatically fetched from the IEC profile in the first section of the form. This covers the IEC, PAN, firm name, registered address, bank details, director information, and branch records. Each entry needs careful review, since the RCMC form locks these fields once the next section opens. Incorrections have to be fixed on the IEC profile before continuing.
- Select APEDA and List Agri-Products with HS Codes: In the RCMC Details section, the applicant marks APEDA as the registering authority, then enters the office for filing, the branch GSTIN, the membership tenure (1 to 5 years), the financial year, the MSME status, the exporter category (Manufacturer Exporter or Merchant Exporter), the zone (EOU or SEZ where applicable), and the relevant fee slab. APEDA-scheduled products are listed with their ITC (HS) codes, covering fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, processed foods, floriculture, basmati rice, and non-alcoholic beverages, cereals, groundnuts, and other GI-tagged agri-exports, along with the destination countries. The annual turnover, previous-year export performance, firm profile, website, and contact details of authorized representatives are also entered in this section.
- Upload Documents, Make Payment, and Digitally Sign-Off: Applicants shall first enter their TDS data, if applicable. Then supporting documents are uploaded as PDFs, and the membership fee is paid through the DGFT payment gateway. Refer to the Documents Required section below for the complete checklist. Once the fee is cleared, the applicant accepts the declaration, goes through the application summary, and secures the application with a DSC or Aadhaar e-sign before final submission.
- Issuance of the Digital RCMC After APEDA Clears the Application: Once submitted, APEDA reviews the application and verifies the business credentials, IEC and GST records, agri-product list with ITC (HS) codes, FSSAI license, NPOP/organic certifications where applicable, supporting documents, and fee payment. Where clarification is needed, APEDA posts a query through the portal, which the applicant resolves before resubmission. Once approved, the digital RCMC certificate appears on the applicant's DGFT dashboard, typically within 7 to 10 working days. RCMC validity sits between 1 and 5 financial years, with the certificate being counted from 1 April of the issuance year up to 31 March of the fifth year, regardless of the actual month of issue.
Documents Required for APEDA RCMC Registration
The document is split into common documents that every exporter submits and APEDA-specific documents.
1. Common Documents
These are the standard documents required for any RCMC application on the DGFT portal:
- Import Export Code (IEC) issued by DGFT (mandatory prerequisite)
- Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the firm
- GST Registration Certificate of the registered office and branches
- Certificate of Incorporation, Partnership Deed, or LLP Agreement depending on entity type
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA and AoA) for companies
- Board Resolution or Authorisation Letter for the authorised signatory
- Aadhaar of the authorised signatory
- Cancelled cheque or Bank Performance Letter for bank verification
- Self-Declaration / Undertaking in the prescribed format
- Last RCMC Certificate (only for renewal applications)
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Aadhaar e-Sign linked to your DGFT account for final submission
2. APEDA-Specific Documents
These are the documents specifically required by APEDA. Since APEDA is the registering authority for agricultural and processed food product exports under the APEDA Act, 1985, its document set focuses on food category compliance and product-specific certifications.
- Self-certified copy of the IEC issued by DGFT
- Bank Certificate duly signed by the relevant bank authorities
- Bank account statement of the firm for the latest 2 months
- Self-attested copy of company registration (mandatory for Manufacturer Exporters of scheduled products)
- Certifications from relevant certification agencies for the specific product category being exported, such as:
- FSSAI license for processed food, dairy, meat, poultry, and beverages
- NPOP / Organic Certification (under National Programme for Organic Production) for organic agri-exports
- EIA / EIC Approval from Export Inspection Agency for products requiring quality certification
- HACCP, ISO 22000, BRC, or GlobalGAP Certifications where applicable for international buyer compliance
- Product-specific Certificate of Origin for basmati rice, mango pulp, alphonso mangoes, GI-tagged products, and other specialty items
- List of APEDA-scheduled products with HS Codes being exported, covering fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, processed foods, floriculture, basmati rice, honey, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cereals, and groundnut
- Star Export House Certificate issued by DGFT, where applicable
Note: All documents must be uploaded in PDF format during the Attachments stage of the DGFT e-RCMC application.
Fees for APEDA Registration
The total APEDA Registration Fees, including APEDA Registration Government fees, cover the applicable charges required for obtaining APEDA registration.
| APEDA Registration | Registration Fees |
|---|---|
| Government Fee | ₹5,900 |
| Professional Fee | ₹3,500 |
| Total Cost | ₹9,400 |
Note: The Government Fee is inclusive of 18% GST charges and the aforementioned Fees is exclusive of GST.
What is APEDA Registration?
APEDA Registration pertains to the Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) granted by the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This certificate is a compulsory requirement for exporters involved with scheduled agricultural and processed food products in India.
This registration acts as an official endorsement, verifying that the exporter is acknowledged by APEDA to export regulated products. Additionally, it provides access to various government initiatives, financial benefits, and subsidies, which assist exporters in improving their operations and competitiveness in the international market.
Acquiring APEDA Registration is crucial for adhering to export documentation, customs clearance, and engaging in international trade fairs and exhibitions. It not only guarantees legal eligibility but also enhances the exporter’s credibility, allowing them to broaden their reach in the global agricultural and processed food sector.
Objectives of APEDA Registration
The main objectives of APEDA Registration are to regulate and promote the export of scheduled agricultural products from India.
- Issuing registration to exporters of the scheduled food product.
- Helps in the development of Industries relating to schedule food products for export.
- Regulating the standard and specification of the scheduled products for export purposes
- Helps improve packaging and marketing for better reach in the industry.
- Conducting various training programs for its members to help develop the export industry for the listed food products in the APEDA act.
- Take part in a food fest to promote scheduled food items outside India
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Advantage of APEDA Registration
APEDA Registration provides multiple advantages to exporters dealing in scheduled food and agricultural products.
- Registered (RCMC) members can take benefit from various Schemes run by APEDA for the promotion of food products. Such as-
- Agriculture and processed food export promotion scheme
- Food processing funds of NABARD
- Kisan Sampada Yojna
- Helps in Infrastructure development.
- Can become a permanent member of the APEDA exporter directory.
- APEDA helps build brand value and promotes the brand.
- Members can participate in various training programs organized by APEDA for scheduled products.
- Provide guidelines to exporters about multiple food products and export markets, respectively.
List of Products Covered Under APEDA Registration
Below is the list of products that require APEDA Registration for export under the APEDA Act.
- Fruits, Vegetables & Processed Items: Includes fresh, frozen, and processed fruits and vegetables that meet APEDA export standards.
- Meat, Poultry & Dairy Products: Covers frozen and processed meat, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy products for global trade.
- Honey, Sugar & Bakery Products: Natural sweeteners like honey and jaggery along with cakes, cookies, biscuits, and bakery goods.
- Chocolates, Nuts & Cereals: All chocolate and cocoa products, groundnuts, peanuts, walnuts, wheat, rice (including Basmati), and other cereal goods.
- Pickles, Beverages & Processed Foods: Indian pickles, papads, chutneys, beers, wines, juices, and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Spices, Herbs & Industrial Products: Green pepper in brine, guar gum, Ayurvedic herbs, and medicinal plant-based items.
- Floriculture & Decorative Plants: Flowers, ornamental plants, and floriculture products cultivated for export markets.
Validity and Renewal of APEDA Registration Certificate
The APEDA Registration cum Allocation Certificate comes with a fixed validity period and must be renewed.
- The registration cum membership certificate ( APEDA Registration ) is valid for 5 years..
- The RCMC license will be auto-renewed every 5 years. Once the fee is submitted, no additional document or submissions is required.
Penalties for Non-Compliance under APEDA Act
There are penalties for not following the rules under the APEDA Act, as follows:
- Any person who disobeys or attempts to breach provisions made under this act shall be punishable
with imprisonment for 6 months or a fine of
Rs. 1,000 as per the laid guidelines. - Repeated offenders shall be fined additional Rs. 50 per day from the day of the first infringement to the date of conviction.
- If a company commits the offence, every person who at the time of the offence was in charge shall be deemed guilty as well as the company and shall be punished accordingly.
APEDA Registration Cancellation
The APEDA Registration Cancellation may take place if exporters do not follow the specified guidelines, as stated within Section 11 of the APEDA Act:
- Non-activity: When the exporter fails to carry out his business activity related to scheduled food commodities for 12 months consecutively, his APEDA registration can be cancelled.
- Incorrect information: Any certificate obtained through giving any false or misleading information shall be cancelled by the APEDA authority.
- Violations of regulations: Non-compliance with APEDA rules and regulations can lead to the revocation of registration.
Conclusion
Indian exporters can enter and prosper in international markets with the help of APEDA Registration, which is more than just a legal requirement. Exporters can ensure compliance with Indian export regulations, access beneficial government programs, and enhance their credibility with foreign buyers by completing the APEDA registration online.
A valid APEDA Registration allows businesses to easily export scheduled agricultural and processed food products, take advantage of APEDA's promotional support, and strengthen their global brand presence. In addition to avoiding trade disruptions, timely registration and renewal position exporters for long-term success and growth in the competitive international market.
FAQ’s On APEDA Registration
What is APEDA certificate?
An APEDA Certificate is a Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) issued by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority for exporters of scheduled agricultural and processed food products.
What is the cost of APEDA certificate?
The total cost for obtaining an APEDA Certificate is ₹9,400, including government registration fees and professional charges.
How to apply for APEDA certificate?
You can apply for an APEDA Certificate online by registering on the APEDA portal, submitting the required documents, and paying the registration fee.
How to get APEDA certificate for export?
In order to obtain an APEDA Certificate for export, one must register, attach the necessary documents, pay the charges, and then download the APEDA Certificate.
What are the main objectives of APEDA?
The objectives of APEDA include encouraging scheduled food articles, controlling quality standards, advancing packing and marketing, developing infrastructure, and export training.
Is APEDA mandatory for export?
Yes, the registration with the APEDA is compulsory for all the exporters who handle the listed agricultural products and processed foods, according to the provisions in the APEDA Act.
What are the key documents required for APEDA registration?
Important documents are Import-Export Code (IEC), Bank Certificate, Bank Statement, GST Registration, Canceled Cheque, and the completed form for registration at APEDA.
How long is the APEDA registration valid?
APEDA registration is valid for 5 years and can also be auto-renewed after paying the renewal charges without the need to submit documents.
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