EPCH Registration: Handicrafts Export Council Membership and RCMC
EPCH registration means joining the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts and getting its Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC). Anyone who wants to export handicrafts can apply. The first year costs ₹7,500 plus 18% GST, which is ₹8,850, and the certificate is valid for 5 years subject to annual fee renewal.
What it is
The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is a non-profit body set up under the Companies Act in 1986-87. Its mandate is to promote, support, protect, maintain and increase handicraft exports. It issues RCMCs to its members through its online portal and the DGFT e-RCMC system.
Para 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 requires an RCMC when you apply for an export authorisation or any benefit under the policy, unless specifically exempted. EPCH registration is therefore the first paper a handicraft exporter should have, ahead of any scheme application. It also gives your buyers a recognised council membership to point to. We prepare the EPCH application, upload documents and answer the council’s queries. Our general RCMC registration guide shows how EPCH sits among the other councils.
Who it applies to
Merchant exporters
Traders who buy handicrafts from artisans or workshops and export them. EPCH registers merchant exporters as a category.
Manufacturer exporters
Workshops and factories that make handicrafts and ship directly. They add Udyam proof with a self-declaration.
Merchant-cum-manufacturer exporters
Businesses that make some goods and trade others. EPCH has a combined category for them.
Why it matters
Opens policy benefits
An RCMC is a precondition for benefits and concessions under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as para 2.57(a) states.
Five years of validity
EPCH states that the certificate is valid for 5 years, subject to the annual membership fee being paid. You do not reapply each year; you only pay the annual fee.
Handicraft-specific support
EPCH exists for handicraft exporters and publishes its handicrafts classification and definition. Members appear in its member directory.
Documents required
About the business
- Self-certified IEC copy
- GSTIN copy
- Partnership deed, if applicable
- Certificate of incorporation and resolution, for companies
About your category
- Export House certificate, if applicable
- MSME/Udyam registration with self-declaration, for manufacturer exporters
- Product list with handicraft classification
Fee and access
- First-year fee payment
- Authorised signatory details
- Working email and mobile number for the online portal
How it works
Check that your goods count as handicrafts
We compare your product list with EPCH’s handicraft classification and definition. Mixed exporters may need another council as well.
Pick the right exporter category
We decide with you whether to register as a merchant, manufacturer or merchant-cum-manufacturer exporter, based on how you actually work.
Prepare the IEC and papers
If you lack an IEC, we apply through our IEC registration service. We match names and addresses across the GST, Udyam and bank papers.
File on the EPCH portal
We submit the application on the EPCH online portal with documents and the first-year fee, and watch for deficiencies on the portal.
Download the RCMC and set renewals
After approval you can download the RCMC from the council’s site. We diarise the annual fee, due from 1 April, so the 5-year validity remains intact.
EPCH fees at a glance
These amounts are from the council’s membership registration page for the April–March year. GST at 18% applies. Confirm the current schedule with us before paying.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entrance fee (first year only) | ₹2,500 |
| Annual membership fee | ₹5,000 |
| First year total with 18% GST | ₹8,850 |
| Annual renewal with GST | ₹5,900 |
Annual fees fall due on 1 April and must be paid by 30 June. Say a Moradabad brassware workshop forgets the date. It can pay the dues and update its record, but the delay can hold up a scheme application in the meantime. We keep the date so you do not have to.
Timelines
Annual fee: 1 April
EPCH states annual membership fees are due on 1 April and must be paid by 30 June.
RCMC validity: 5 years
The certificate remains valid for 5 years, subject to annual membership fee renewal.
Before you claim a benefit
Have the RCMC in hand before you apply for any benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy. Here is the catch: the portal needs an active IEC first, so we start there.
What happens if you skip membership or renewal
No RCMC, no policy benefits
Para 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 makes the RCMC a precondition for benefits and concessions.
Lapse in annual fees
EPCH ties the 5-year validity to the annual fee. If the fee is not paid by 30 June, your membership is out of order until you pay.
Deficiency queries
The council can raise deficiencies on the portal. Left unanswered, the application stays pending. We watch and reply.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for EPCH membership?
Anyone interested in exporting handicrafts can apply. EPCH registers merchant exporters, manufacturer exporters and merchant-cum-manufacturer exporters. You need an active IEC and GSTIN. We help you pick the right category and prepare the file so it goes through the first time.
How much does EPCH registration cost?
The first year costs ₹2,500 entrance fee plus ₹5,000 annual fee, which is ₹7,500 plus 18% GST, or ₹8,850. Renewal is ₹5,900 with GST each year after that. Please confirm current figures with us before you pay, since councils revise fees.
How long is the RCMC valid?
EPCH states the certificate is valid for 5 years, subject to the annual membership fee being renewed. The annual fee falls due on 1 April and must be paid by 30 June. We diarise both dates for you.
Which documents does EPCH ask for?
EPCH asks for a self-certified IEC copy, a GSTIN copy, a partnership deed where applicable, and a certificate of incorporation with resolution for companies. Manufacturers add MSME or Udyam registration with a self-declaration. Export House certificates apply where relevant. We prepare the set.
Where do I apply?
You apply on the EPCH online portal, and you can later view deficiencies or download the RCMC from the council’s site. We handle the portal entry, upload documents, watch for deficiencies and download the certificate once it is issued, so you always have a copy.
Do I need an IEC first?
Yes. EPCH asks for a self-certified IEC copy with the application, and the DGFT e-RCMC system also expects an active IEC. If you do not have one, we apply for it first. It is usually the quickest part.
Merchant or manufacturer exporter: which should I choose?
Choose the category that reflects how you work. Merchant exporters buy and export, manufacturers make and export, and the merchant-cum-manufacturer category covers both. Manufacturers add Udyam proof. We talk through your set-up and pick the category that fits your documents.
Can EPCH help with buyers and fairs?
EPCH exists to promote handicraft exports, and its site mentions member services and a member directory. Specific schemes and fairs change by year, so we do not promise any. We help you register. Please then follow the council’s current notices for schemes and fairs, and tell us if one needs paperwork.
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 are the EPCH fees shown above, with 18% GST. They can change, and we confirm the current schedule before you pay.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product list and IEC, and we will choose the category and file your EPCH application.