CEPCI Registration: Cashew Export Council Membership and RCMC
CEPCI registration means becoming a member of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India and receiving its Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC). Cashew kernel and cashew nut shell liquid exporters need it for Foreign Trade Policy benefits. The Council asks for exports of at least 30 MT in the previous 12 months, and membership runs April to March.
What it is
The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) was set up in 1955 under the Department of Commerce and works from Mundakkal in Kollam, Kerala. It promotes exports of cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), and it is the body that registers cashew exporters as its members.
Once the Council accepts you, it issues an RCMC. Para 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 makes an RCMC a precondition when you ask for an export authorisation or any benefit or concession under the policy, unless the policy specifically exempts you. We prepare the membership application, assemble the documents and file it on the Council’s portal. Our wider guide to RCMC registration explains how councils and the DGFT e-RCMC system fit together.
Who it applies to
Cashew kernel exporters
Manufacturers who process raw cashew nuts into kernels and ship them abroad, and merchant exporters who buy kernels and export them. The Council lists individuals, firms, companies and corporations as eligible.
CNSL and cardanol exporters
Units that ship cashew nut shell liquid or cardanol. These count towards the Council’s minimum export test with a higher weight than plain kernels.
Consumer-pack brands
Packed and branded cashews sold in retail packs count fifteen times over for the minimum test. Picture a Kochi brand selling 250 g retail packs to the Gulf: modest tonnage, but the weighting helps it reach the 30 MT mark sooner.
Why it matters
No RCMC, no policy benefits
Without the certificate you cannot claim benefits or concessions under the Foreign Trade Policy, as para 2.57(a) makes clear. Many exporters find this out only when a scheme application bounces.
A recognised exporter on file
The Council runs buyer–seller meets and handles disputes on quality and contract terms. Being a member puts you inside that system.
A record you can renew
Membership is renewed every April to March. Keep it current, and a valid RCMC is ready whenever a scheme application needs one.
Documents required
About the business
- Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), self-attested
- Registered office address proof
- Partnership deed, or memorandum for a company
- Factory licence or SSI/Udyam proof, for manufacturers
Export evidence
- Bills of lading and invoices for exports in the previous 12 months, attested by a CA
- A working-out of tonnage across kernels, CNSL and consumer packs
- Declaration that no foreign trade complaint is pending and you are not blacklisted
People and identity
- Passport-size photograph
- Details of proprietor, partners or directors
- Authorised signatory details and DSC where the portal asks for it
How it works
Check whether you clear the 30 MT test
We add up your exports for the previous 12 months, applying the weights the Council uses, and tell you straight away whether you qualify. Not there yet? We say so and suggest what to do.
Fix your IEC and records
If you have no IEC we apply through our IEC registration service. We also check that names, addresses and GST details match across your papers.
Prepare the CA-attested export file
You send shipping bills and invoices. We organise them into the format the Council expects, and your CA attests them. Where the work needs a practising CA, a qualified professional signs it.
File the application and fee
We submit the membership application on the Council’s portal and pay the entrance and annual fees with you. We reply to any query the Council raises.
Collect the RCMC and diarise renewals
After approval you receive the certificate. We diarise the April renewal and the trade contribution so that nothing lapses.
CEPCI membership fees at a glance
These figures come from the Council’s ordinary membership page. GST at 18% is added to each. Please confirm the current schedule with us before you pay, because councils revise fees from time to time.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entrance fee (one time) | ₹20,000 |
| Annual membership | ₹8,500 |
| Trade contribution, cashew kernels | ₹2.50 per carton |
| Trade contribution, CNSL and cardanol | ₹15 per MT |
| Trade contribution floor and cap | Minimum ₹8,000; maximum ₹1,10,000 |
Timelines
Look back 12 months
The eligibility test counts exports in the previous 12 months. Here is the catch: the window moves with every shipment. Start the file once your latest consignments are cleared, not at year end.
Membership year 1 April–31 March
The Council states that membership runs April to March and needs yearly renewal. Plan the renewal in March.
Keep the IEC alive
The RCMC application needs an active IEC. Our IEC renewal service keeps that side clean.
What happens if you export without membership
Policy benefits are out of reach
Para 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 requires an RCMC for benefits and concessions. Without it, applications for those benefits cannot move ahead.
Lapsed renewal
If the yearly renewal is missed, your membership position becomes stale. A fresh payment and update is the fix, and we handle it.
Blocked by a complaint or blacklist
Pending foreign trade complaints or a blacklist entry block membership. If you suspect one, tell us before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for CEPCI membership?
Individuals, firms, companies and corporations that exported cashew kernels, CNSL or cardanol in the previous 12 months can apply. You must not have a pending foreign trade complaint or a blacklist entry. If you are unsure whether your shipments qualify, send us the invoices and we will check before you spend on fees.
What is the minimum export requirement?
The Council asks for 30 MT of cashew kernels, which is two containers. CNSL exports count five times and consumer packs fifteen times, and you can combine categories to reach 30 MT. We do the arithmetic from your shipping records and tell you where you stand, before you pay a rupee for CEPCI registration.
What does CEPCI membership cost?
The Council lists an entrance fee of ₹20,000 and annual membership of ₹8,500, plus a trade contribution. GST at 18% applies. The contribution is ₹2.50 per carton of kernels or ₹15 per MT of CNSL, with a minimum of ₹8,000 and a maximum of ₹1,10,000. We confirm the current schedule before you pay.
How long is CEPCI membership valid?
The membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March and needs yearly renewal. The Council states this on its ordinary membership page. We set a renewal reminder for you, so the certificate never lapses in the middle of a scheme application.
Do I need an IEC before applying?
Yes, you need an IEC. The Council asks for a self-attested copy, and the DGFT e-RCMC system also expects an active IEC. If you do not have one yet, we apply for it first. It is usually the quickest part of the process.
Which documents must a CA attest?
The Council asks for bills of lading and invoices to be attested by a CA. We prepare the schedule, and your CA attests it. A qualified professional signs where signing is needed. Taxhint prepares the file and files it, and it never signs on anyone’s behalf.
Can a new exporter with no shipments join?
The Council’s ordinary membership is built around exports in the previous 12 months, so a business with no shipments may not meet the test yet. Tell us your position. We will check what the Council currently offers and what makes sense for you.
Is CEPCI the only RCMC I may need?
Not always. An RCMC comes from the council or board that matches your main line of business. If you also export products under another council, such as spices, you may need a second one. We map your product mix once and tell you exactly what is required.
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.
In practice, government charges on this route are the Council’s entrance fee, annual membership and trade contribution shown above, with 18% GST. Any attestation by your CA is billed separately by that CA.
Ready to begin?
Share your last 12 months of cashew shipments and we will tell you whether you qualify and what to file.