Quick answerAPEDA registration is a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) issued by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. Under section 12 of the APEDA Act, 1985, any person exporting a scheduled product, such as rice, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, dairy, meat, honey or floriculture items, must register with APEDA. The applicant needs an Import Export Code. The RCMC is valid for five years and is also needed to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy and APEDA's assistance schemes.
- Law
- APEDA Act 1985, s. 12; FTP 2023
- Authority
- APEDA, Ministry of Commerce
- Validity
- 5 years
- Prerequisite
- Valid IEC from DGFT
Which products need APEDA registration
APEDA covers the agricultural and processed food products listed in the First Schedule to the Act. The main groups are:
- Basmati and non-basmati rice, wheat, other cereals and their products
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, and their processed forms such as pulp, juices, pickles, chutneys and dehydrated products
- Meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, dairy products
- Bakery and confectionery, biscuits, cocoa products, papad, guar gum and other processed foods
- Honey, jaggery and sugar products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Floriculture products, seeds, groundnuts and peanuts, and medicinal and herbal plants
Some food products fall under other bodies instead: spices under the Spices Board, tea under the Tea Board, coffee under the Coffee Board, marine products under MPEDA and cashew under its own council. An exporter of spices, for example, needs Spices Board registration rather than APEDA. Where you export a mix of scheduled and non-scheduled items, we map each product to its body before applying.
The legal basis and validity
Section 12 of the APEDA Act makes registration compulsory for every person exporting scheduled products, and the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 requires an RCMC from the relevant export promotion council or commodity board for any exporter claiming benefits under the Policy. The APEDA RCMC therefore serves both purposes.
An RCMC is valid for five years. It must be renewed before it expires, and any change in name, address, constitution or partners or directors must be reported for amendment. APEDA may suspend or cancel the registration for misuse, for example where false information has been given, or quality complaints from buyers abroad are substantiated.
Some products have additional requirements. Contracts for the export of basmati rice must be registered with APEDA before shipment. Organic products are exported against certification under the National Programme for Organic Production by accredited certification bodies, and certain fresh produce to some markets must be traceable through APEDA's online traceability systems from the farm onwards.
How the APEDA application is made
- Obtain an Import Export Code; the APEDA application is linked to it.
- Apply online, choosing whether you are a manufacturer exporter or a merchant exporter and listing the products you will export. The DGFT has been moving RCMC applications for councils onto its common e-RCMC system, and APEDA processes them from there.
- Upload the self-certified documents and a bank certificate or cancelled cheque.
- Pay the registration fee online. As on date this is about ₹5,000 plus GST, but the fee is set by APEDA and should be checked at the time of filing.
- APEDA verifies the application and issues the RCMC electronically, usually within a few working days if the documents are in order.
What APEDA membership gives you
- Legal clearance to export scheduled products, without which customs and buyers will raise objections.
- Foreign Trade Policy benefits such as Advance Authorisation and EPCG, which require an RCMC.
- Financial assistance schemes run by APEDA for infrastructure, quality development, packaging and market development, subject to the scheme guidelines in force.
- Trade promotion: participation in international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets and India pavilions organised or supported by APEDA.
- Market information: import requirements of foreign countries, residue limits, and alerts on rejections.
Manufacturer exporter or merchant exporter
APEDA registers both kinds of exporters, and the choice affects the documents you file and the schemes you can access later.
| Point | Manufacturer exporter | Merchant exporter |
|---|
| Who it is | Processes or packs the product in its own unit | Buys from processors or farmers and exports |
| Extra documents | Factory address, FSSAI licence, plant details | Sourcing arrangement, supplier details where asked |
| Infrastructure assistance | Can apply for processing and quality infrastructure support, subject to scheme rules | Mainly market development and promotion support |
| Quality responsibility | Directly responsible for processing hygiene and testing | Must ensure the supplier meets destination standards and keep test reports |
Many businesses start as merchant exporters and later set up a unit. When that happens, the RCMC should be amended to reflect the change rather than a fresh registration being taken, so the membership history continues.
Farmer producer organisations and co-operatives can also register with APEDA and export directly, which often improves the price realised by members compared with selling through traders.
Quality, testing and food safety for exports
Most export rejections of Indian food products are for pesticide residues, microbiological contamination, aflatoxins or labelling errors. Importing countries set their own limits, which are often stricter than Indian standards. Exporters should test consignments at APEDA-recognised laboratories, maintain records of sourcing and processing, and keep labels compliant with the destination country's law.
Domestic food law still applies to the exporting unit: processing and storage premises need an FSSAI licence, and units exporting food generally require a Central licence. Certain products such as meat need plant approval and registration with the relevant authorities before export.
After the RCMC is issued
The certificate is the start of an ongoing relationship with APEDA. In the years that follow, an exporter typically has to:
- quote the RCMC number on export documents and in applications to the DGFT for authorisations;
- file export returns and statistics in the form and at the intervals APEDA asks for;
- register contracts or consignments where a product-specific system applies, such as basmati contracts or traceability for certain fresh produce;
- apply for amendment when products, premises, partners or directors change; and
- apply for renewal before the five-year period ends, so that scheme claims and authorisations are not interrupted.
Exporters planning to apply for APEDA financial assistance should read the scheme guidelines before incurring the expense, because most schemes require prior approval or specific documentation and do not reimburse spending already made.
Errors we see in APEDA applications
- Applying to the wrong body. Registering with APEDA for spices or tea does not satisfy the law for those products.
- Listing too few products. The RCMC lists the products you export. Add new scheduled products by amendment before shipping them.
- Mismatch between IEC, GST and bank details, which leads to queries and delay.
- Letting the RCMC lapse after five years and then claiming incentives, which may be disallowed for the period of lapse.
- Not filing export returns that APEDA asks RCMC holders to submit, which can affect renewal and scheme eligibility.
Documents you need
Self-certified copies of the following are needed for the APEDA application.
- Import Export Code (IEC)
- PAN of the entity
- Certificate of incorporation, LLP certificate or partnership deed
- GST registration certificate
- Bank certificate or cancelled cheque in the entity's name
- Address proof of the registered office and processing unit
- FSSAI licence and factory details, for manufacturer exporters
- Digital signature certificate of the authorised signatory
How we handle it for you
Map your products
We check which of your products are APEDA scheduled products and which fall under other boards.
Check IEC and records
We confirm the IEC, GST and bank details match before applying.
File the application
The RCMC application is filed online with the correct exporter type and product list.
Follow up to issue
We handle queries from APEDA until the certificate is issued.
Keep it current
We file amendments, export returns and renewal before the five-year validity ends.
Why clients choose ProudLegal
Advocates who appear in courtYour matter is drafted and argued by enrolled advocates, not call-centre staff.
Company and tax filings in-houseCompany secretaries and tax professionals handle registrations and returns.
Fees agreed in writingYou receive a written fee quote before any work begins.
Updates on WhatsApp and emailEvery hearing date, filing and document is shared as it happens.
Please note: this page explains the law and procedure in general terms as on 30 October 2026. Fees, limits and timelines change, and the facts of each case matter, so take advice on your own papers before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is APEDA registration mandatory?
Yes, for exporters of scheduled products. Section 12 of the APEDA Act requires every such exporter to register with APEDA.
How long is the APEDA RCMC valid?
Five years from issue. It should be renewed before it expires to avoid any break in export benefits.
What is the APEDA registration fee?
As on date the fee is about ₹5,000 plus GST, paid online. APEDA sets the fee, so it should be confirmed when filing.
Do I need an IEC before APEDA registration?
Yes. The APEDA application is linked to a valid Import Export Code issued by the DGFT.
Is APEDA registration needed for spice exports?
No. Spices are under the Spices Board, which issues a separate Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices.
Can a merchant exporter register with APEDA?
Yes. APEDA registers both manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters who buy and export scheduled products.
Does APEDA registration replace the FSSAI licence?
No. APEDA registration is for export; the manufacturing or storage premises still need the appropriate FSSAI licence.
How long does APEDA registration take?
Usually a few working days after a complete online application, depending on verification by APEDA.
