APEDA/ RCMC Registration

Who Needs This Service

Exporters of fruits and vegetables, rice and cereals, dairy and meat products, honey, processed foods, floriculture and organic products need APEDA registration. Farmer producer organisations, agri startups, food processing companies and merchant exporters sourcing from farmers are common applicants.

If you already export under a different category, such as spices or coffee, you also need the registration of the relevant commodity board. Products that fall under APEDA's schedule must be exported by an exporter with a valid RCMC.

Businesses that want to take advantage of APEDA's promotional programmes, such as participation in international trade fairs, should register early.

If you are unsure whether your product is under APEDA or another board, we help you check the schedule and find the right authority.

Key Benefits

• Legally required for scheduled agri and processed-food exports
• Access to APEDA's support and promotion programmes
• Five-year validity of the RCMC
• Support with merchant or manufacturer category and documents
• Filed through the DGFT e-RCMC platform with expert guidance

Next Steps & Related Services

After the RCMC, plan your export shipments and certifications.

Related services: IEC Code, AD Code, ICEGATE Registration, FSSAI registration and Spice, Coffee and Tea Board registrations.

Common Mistakes

• Applying on an older APEDA portal instead of the DGFT e-RCMC route.
• Missing product-specific licences for manufacturer exporters.
• Registering under the wrong exporter category.
• Letting the five-year RCMC expire without renewal.
• Assuming APEDA covers all agri exports; spices, coffee and tea have their own boards.

Timeline, Costs & Practical Tips

The RCMC is issued after APEDA verifies the application. The quoted fee is about Rs 5,900 including GST and validity is five years.

Practical tip: keep your FSSAI or Udyam proof and product list ready so that APEDA does not raise queries about the manufacturing category.

Additional Information

The APEDA Act, 1985 empowers the authority to register exporters of scheduled products and to promote exports. The RCMC is also linked to the Foreign Trade Policy, which uses RCMCs to give access to export benefits. The shift to the DGFT e-RCMC platform in 2023 aimed to simplify applications for exporters.

Practical Scenarios

Scenario 1:

A fruit exporter applies for an APEDA RCMC through the DGFT e-RCMC platform before its first shipment.

Scenario 2:

A farmer producer company that processes products applies as a manufacturer exporter and submits FSSAI proof.

Scenario 3:

An exporter whose RCMC is nearing the end of its five-year validity applies for renewal.

Practical Guidance

APEDA registration is most smoothly handled when the exporter has already decided on its category. A merchant exporter sources from others and needs proof of its trade identity, whereas a manufacturer exporter must prove production capability through licences such as FSSAI or Udyam. Because APEDA covers a wide range of agricultural and processed products, check the schedule for your exact HS product before applying.