APEDA Registration (RCMC for Agri Exports)
If you export fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bakery items, beverages or any other product in the APEDA Schedule, you must register with APEDA and hold its Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC). You need an Import Export Code first. The application runs on the DGFT portal, the fee is ₹5,900 including GST and the certificate is valid for five years.
What it is
APEDA registration means holding the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) issued by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). It confirms you are a registered exporter of APEDA’s scheduled products, and it is the RCMC you show when you claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.
The duty to register comes from Section 12 of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985. Every person exporting a scheduled product must apply within one month of the date they undertake the export. Since 17 July 2023, APEDA issues the certificate through the e-RCMC module on the DGFT portal, following DGFT Trade Notice 35/2021-22 dated 24 February 2022.
Who it applies to
You trade in scheduled products
Merchant exporters buy the goods from others and export them under their own Import Export Code. Think of a Faridabad trader who buys jaggery from mills in western Uttar Pradesh and ships it to Dubai. APEDA asks such a trader for a signed and sealed copy of the IEC.
You make the product yourself
Manufacturer exporters, and manufacturer-cum-merchant exporters, register too. Along with the IEC, you show proof of manufacturing, such as an FSSAI licence or a Udyam registration.
You are shipping for the first time
The one-month window in Section 12 starts from the date you undertake your first export. Apply before the goods move.
Is your product on APEDA’s list?
APEDA covers only the products in the Schedule to the Act. The Schedule includes:
- Fruits, vegetables and their products
- Meat and meat products; poultry and poultry products
- Dairy products
- Confectionery, biscuits and bakery products
- Honey, jaggery and sugar products
- Cocoa and its products, and chocolates of all kinds
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Cereal products and non-basmati rice
- Groundnuts, peanuts and walnuts
- Pickles, chutneys and papads
- Guar gum
- Floriculture and floriculture products
- Herbal and medicinal plants
Here is the catch: the test is the product, not your line of trade. A Faridabad engineering firm that sends a consignment of pickles to the Gulf as a side business still needs APEDA registration, because pickles are on the list. And if your goods fall outside it, APEDA is the wrong door; your RCMC comes from the export promotion council for your main line of business. We check the product and its HS code before you pay any fee.
Why it matters
Meet the Section 12 duty
Section 12 makes registration compulsory for anyone exporting a scheduled product, whatever the size of the business.
Claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits
Under paragraph 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, anyone applying for an import or export authorisation (other than for items listed as ‘Restricted’ in ITC(HS)), or for any other benefit or concession under the policy, must provide an RCMC unless specifically exempted.
Use APEDA’s export support
Section 10 of the Act tasks APEDA with financial assistance, better packaging and training for exporters of scheduled products. Its citizen’s charter also lists market promotion outside India.
Documents required
From every applicant
- Active Import Export Code (IEC) with an updated profile on the DGFT portal
- Signed and sealed copy of the IEC
- Digital signature linked to your DGFT login, or Aadhaar e-signature
- Your main line of business and the scheduled products you export
From manufacturer exporters
Proof of manufacturing from the agency relevant to your product, such as:
- FSSAI licence or registration
- Udyam registration certificate
- Certificate from the Department of Horticulture or the Ministry of MSME
- Document from the Department of Excise Commissioner, where relevant
For the fee and later changes
- ₹5,000 registration fee plus 18% GST of ₹900, paid with the application
- Amendment request when your details change; APEDA charges no fee for amending an issued RCMC
How it works
Confirm your product is scheduled
We match your goods to the Schedule. If they belong to another council, we tell you which RCMC you need instead.
Get your IEC in order
No IEC yet? We apply for it first. Already have one? We update your IEC profile on DGFT, since DGFT lists an updated IEC profile as a prerequisite for the e-RCMC module.
File the e-RCMC application on DGFT
We select APEDA as the registering authority, declare your main line of business and upload the IEC copy and any manufacturing proof.
Sign and pay ₹5,900
You sign with your digital signature or Aadhaar e-signature. The ₹5,000 fee plus GST goes with the application.
Receive the RCMC and diarise renewal
We track the application and answer any query from APEDA. Once the e-RCMC arrives, we note its expiry date.
Timelines
Apply within one month of exporting
Section 12 gives you one month from the date you undertake an export of a scheduled product. In practice, apply before the first shipment. Say a Faridabad bakery signs its first export order for biscuits in November: we file in November, not after the container sails.
Expect issue within one day
APEDA’s citizen’s charter sets a service standard of one day for issuing an RCMC. A query on your documents adds time, so we check them before filing.
Renew every five years
An RCMC is valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it is issued, for five financial years ending 31 March. One issued in October 2026 runs to 31 March 2031. Renewal costs ₹5,900.
What happens if you export without it
You risk a Section 24 penalty
Breaking the Act, or its rules, can lead to imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to ₹1,000, or both. A continuing default can add up to ₹50 for each day after the first conviction.
Your benefit claims stall
Without a valid RCMC, applications for authorisations and other benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 cannot go ahead, unless the policy specifically exempts you.
Let it lapse and claims stop again
The certificate lapses after 31 March of its fifth financial year. Renew before then, or your next benefit claim waits.
Frequently asked questions
Is APEDA registration compulsory for exporting food products?
Yes, if your product is in the Schedule to the APEDA Act. Section 12 requires every person exporting a scheduled product to apply for registration within one month of the date they undertake the export. The Schedule covers fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, bakery items, beverages, cereal products, non-basmati rice and more. Goods outside the Schedule need an RCMC from a different council. A quick check of your product list settles the question.
What is the APEDA registration fee?
The fee is ₹5,900: a registration fee of ₹5,000 plus GST at 18%, which is ₹900. Renewal after five years costs the same ₹5,900. Once the RCMC is issued, APEDA charges no fee for an amendment or modification, such as a change in your details. Our professional fee is separate and quoted upfront.
How long is an APEDA RCMC valid?
Five years. Under DGFT’s rule, an RCMC is valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it is issued, for five financial years ending 31 March. So a certificate issued in October 2026 is valid until 31 March 2031. Renewal costs ₹5,900, the same as a fresh registration. We diarise the date for you, so the renewal is filed before the certificate lapses.
Do I need an IEC before applying to APEDA?
Yes. APEDA issues its RCMC only after you hold an Import Export Code from DGFT. The e-RCMC module also needs an active IEC with an updated profile, and a digital signature or Aadhaar e-signature linked to your login. If you do not have an IEC yet, we apply for it first and then move straight to the APEDA application. Both are done online, so the sequence is short.
Where do I apply for APEDA registration now?
On the DGFT portal, through its e-RCMC module. APEDA started using the DGFT portal for issuing RCMCs from 17 July 2023, in compliance with DGFT Trade Notice 35/2021-22 dated 24 February 2022. You log in with your IEC, choose APEDA as the registering authority, upload the documents and pay the fee. We handle the filing and any queries for you.
Can a trader register with APEDA without a factory?
Yes. APEDA registers merchant exporters, who buy scheduled products and export them, as well as manufacturers. A merchant exporter needs a signed and sealed copy of the IEC. A manufacturer or manufacturer-cum-merchant exporter also shows proof of manufacturing from the relevant agency, such as an FSSAI licence, Udyam registration, or a certificate from the Department of Horticulture. Either way, the fee is the same ₹5,900.
How long does APEDA take to issue the RCMC?
APEDA’s citizen’s charter sets a service standard of one day for issuing an RCMC. Most delays come from a mismatched IEC profile, an unsigned IEC copy or missing manufacturing proof. A snack maker whose IEC still shows its old Faridabad premises, for example, should fix the profile first. We check each document before filing, so the application goes through cleanly.
What is the penalty for exporting without APEDA registration?
Section 24 of the APEDA Act provides imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to ₹1,000, or both, for contraventions not covered by the Act’s other penalty sections. A continuing contravention can attract up to ₹50 for each day after the first conviction. The bigger practical cost is that you cannot claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits without an RCMC. Registering early avoids both problems.
Can I change the details on my APEDA RCMC later?
Yes. After the RCMC is issued, you can apply for an amendment or modification, and APEDA charges no fee for it. If the change also affects your IEC, update the IEC profile on DGFT first and then apply for the amendment. Common triggers are a new address or a new product line. We file both steps together.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
APEDA’s government fee is the same for every exporter:
| Item | Government fee |
|---|---|
| New registration (RCMC) | ₹5,000 + 18% GST (₹900) = ₹5,900 |
| Renewal after five years | ₹5,900 |
| Amendment or modification of an issued RCMC | No fee |
Ready to begin?
Send us your IEC number and the products you plan to ship. We will confirm that APEDA is your council and file the RCMC before your first container leaves.