Spice Board Registration (CRES) for Spice Exporters
Section 11 of the Spices Board Act, 1986 says nobody may carry on the business of exporting spices without a certificate from the Spices Board. That certificate, the CRES, runs in three-year blocks and must be renewed before it lapses. We prepare the application, file it online with the Board and handle renewals and amendments.
What it is
CRES stands for Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices. It is issued by the Spices Board, the body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that promotes and regulates Indian spice exports. Without it, you cannot lawfully run a spice export business, whether you grind and pack the spice yourself or buy and ship it.
The legal base is Section 11 of the Spices Board Act, 1986: no person shall commence or carry on the business of export of any spice except under and in accordance with a certificate. The details sit in the Spices Board (Registration of Exporters) Regulations, 1989, which set the fees, the three-year validity, renewal and the conditions you must follow. Applications are made online through the Board’s website, indianspices.com.
Who it applies to
You buy spices and export them
Say a Faridabad trader buys turmeric and dried chilli from mandis and ships them to buyers abroad under its own name. That is a merchant exporter, and the application fee is ₹10,000.
You process spices in your own unit
A Ballabgarh unit that grinds and packs masala blends for export is a manufacturer exporter. The fee is ₹15,000, and the Board verifies the facility.
You are starting out or renewing
First-time exporters need the certificate before the first shipment. Existing holders need to renew before the current block ends.
Why it matters
Export legally from the first order
Section 11 makes the certificate a condition for carrying on spice exports at all. The application itself is made under Section 12 of the Act.
Get on the Board’s records
The Spices Board runs quality evaluation labs and publishes price and market data. A registered exporter is on its records.
Know your quality duties
The certificate comes with a condition to meet the quality standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Board’s own standards. Board officers may draw samples on demand.
Documents required
Business identity
- Import Export Code (IEC)
- PAN of the business
- GST registration certificate
- Incorporation certificate, partnership deed or LLP agreement
Premises and facility
- Address proof of the registered office
- For manufacturers: proof of the processing unit and its address
- For manufacturers: FSSAI licence for the unit
Signatory and banking
- ID proof of the proprietor, partner or director
- Bank account details of the business
- Digital signature, if the portal asks for one
Merchant or manufacturer: the fee table
The Spices Board (Registration of Exporters) Regulations, 1989 set different fees for each category. These are the figures in the Regulations, payable plus tax as applicable.
| Item | Merchant exporter | Manufacturer exporter |
|---|---|---|
| New certificate (3-year block) | ₹10,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Renewal | ₹7,500 | ₹10,000 |
| Change of name or address | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
Here is the catch: fees once paid to the Board are not refunded. So get the category right before you pay.
How it works
Choose merchant or manufacturer
We check whether you process spices in your own unit or buy them from others and export. That decides the fee and whether the Board inspects a facility.
Line up IEC, GST and FSSAI
We confirm your IEC, GST and, for manufacturers, the FSSAI licence are in place and show the same name and address.
File online with the Board
We fill the application on the Spices Board portal, upload documents and pay the fee online.
Prepare for the facility check
For manufacturer exporters, the Board verifies the facility. We help you prepare for it and answer any queries.
File returns and renew on time
We file quarterly returns, report changes within 30 days and apply for renewal before the block ends.
Timelines
Before the first shipment
Section 11 bars carrying on spice exports without the certificate. In practice, apply as soon as your IEC is ready, well before you commit to an order.
Within 30 days of a change
Changes in name or address must be reported to the Board within 30 days, with the ₹5,000 amendment fee.
Before the 3-year block ends
Renewal must be filed on or before expiry. The Regulations say an application received after the certificate has expired will not be entertained.
What happens if you miss it
Export without a certificate
Running a spice export business without a certificate breaches Section 11 of the Spices Board Act, 1986.
Renewal refused after expiry
A renewal filed after the certificate has expired is not accepted. You would then need a fresh application as a new exporter.
No exports, no renewal
A holder who does not carry on any export business while the certificate is valid may be debarred from renewing it for the next three years.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spice Board registration compulsory for exporting spices?
Yes. Section 11 of the Spices Board Act, 1986 says no person shall commence or carry on the business of exporting any spice except under a certificate from the Board. This applies to merchant exporters and manufacturer exporters alike. The certificate is called the CRES. If you plan to export even one consignment of spices as a business, get the certificate first, and we can file it for you.
What is CRES?
CRES is the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices, issued by the Spices Board under Section 11 of the Spices Board Act, 1986. It records you as a registered spice exporter for a three-year block. The certificate is personal to the holder and cannot be sold or transferred. We prepare and file the application on the Board’s online system.
What is the fee for a new CRES?
The Regulations set ₹10,000 for a merchant exporter and ₹15,000 for a manufacturer exporter for a new certificate. Renewal costs ₹7,500 and ₹10,000 respectively. A change of name or address costs ₹5,000. Tax is added as applicable. Fees once paid are not refunded, so choosing the right category matters. We check your set-up before filing.
How long is the certificate valid?
The certificate is granted for a block period of three years, or part of one. The Regulations treat the year as starting on 1 April. Apply for renewal on or before the expiry date, because a renewal application received after expiry is not entertained. We note your expiry date and start the renewal well in advance.
What is the difference between a merchant and a manufacturer exporter?
A manufacturer exporter processes spices in its own facility, such as cleaning, grinding, blending or packing, and then exports them. A merchant exporter buys spices from others and exports them. The fee differs, ₹15,000 against ₹10,000, and the Board verifies the facility of a manufacturer exporter. We look at your operations and recommend the category that fits.
Do I need FSSAI and IEC before applying?
You need an Import Export Code from DGFT for any export, so get it first. The Regulations also require you to meet the quality standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, so a manufacturer exporter should have its FSSAI licence in place. Keep the name and address the same across IEC, GST and FSSAI. We can arrange all three together if you are starting fresh.
What returns must a registered spice exporter file?
The Regulations require certificate holders to file quarterly returns of their exports and imports of spices with the Spices Board. Changes in name or address must be reported within 30 days. A holder who made no exports during the validity period may be debarred from renewal for the next three years. We can file the returns for you each quarter.
Can the CRES be transferred if I sell my business?
No. The Regulations say every certificate is granted personally to the holder and cannot be sold. A new owner or a new entity needs its own certificate. Think of a proprietor in Faridabad who moves the spice business into a new private limited company: the company applies afresh. A change of name or address of the same holder is an amendment, with a ₹5,000 fee. We help you time the switch.
Can Board officers test my spice consignments?
Yes. The Regulations let officers of the Board draw samples to check quality, and holders must meet the standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and those set by the Board. The Board also runs quality evaluation labs that exporters use. Testing is done by the Board or accredited labs, not by us. We handle the paperwork and keep your records ready.
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.
Government fees under the Spices Board (Registration of Exporters) Regulations, 1989: ₹10,000 (merchant exporter) or ₹15,000 (manufacturer exporter) for a new certificate; ₹7,500 or ₹10,000 for renewal; ₹5,000 for a change of name or address. Fees are not refundable.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what spices you plan to export and whether you process them yourself. We will pick the right category and file your CRES.