APEDA RCMC Registration (Fees & Process)

Products listed in the First Schedule of the APEDA Act, 1985 require APEDA RCMC for export. This schedule includes fresh fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, dairy products, groundnuts, walnuts, cereals and cereal products, confectionery and biscuits, cocoa products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, floriculture products, and other processed food and agricultural items. Exporters should verify the applicable HS code of their product against the APEDA schedule to confirm whether registration is mandatory.

The registration fee for APEDA RCMC varies by entity type. As of the current schedule, the fee for a company or LLP is rupees five thousand, for a partnership firm rupees three thousand, and for a sole proprietorship rupees one thousand five hundred. These are one-time fees payable at the time of initial registration. Renewal of the RCMC at the end of the five-year validity period attracts a separate renewal fee as notified by APEDA at the time of renewal.

Yes. The IEC is a general trade registration required for all importers and exporters, while the APEDA RCMC is a product-specific registration required specifically for scheduled agricultural and processed food products under the APEDA Act, 1985. Having an IEC does not fulfil the APEDA registration obligation. Both are required simultaneously — the IEC is the prerequisite for applying for the APEDA RCMC, but the RCMC is the mandatory registration for legally exporting scheduled products and for claiming APEDA financial assistance.

APEDA administers several financial assistance schemes for registered exporters. These include assistance for infrastructure development such as cold storage and processing facilities, quality development assistance for certification and laboratory testing, market development assistance for participation in international trade fairs and buyer-seller meets, transport assistance for air freight on eligible perishable products, and assistance for organic certification. Eligibility for all these schemes requires a valid APEDA RCMC. The specific quantum of assistance and eligibility conditions are notified through APEDA circulars.

The APEDA RCMC is valid for five years from the date of issue. Before the expiry, the registered exporter must apply for renewal through the APEDA portal. The renewal application follows a process similar to the initial registration — updating entity details, confirming current product list, uploading revised documents if any have changed, and paying the renewal fee. If the RCMC lapses without renewal, the entity cannot legally export scheduled products or claim APEDA benefits until the registration is renewed.

Yes. APEDA does not require an established export history for initial registration. Startups and newly incorporated companies dealing in scheduled agricultural or processed food products can apply for RCMC from the outset. The application requires a valid IEC, GST registration, business incorporation documents, and a list of intended export products. First-time exporters should ensure that their product list clearly identifies the scheduled items they plan to export, along with the correct Harmonised System (HS) codes.

India has multiple Export Promotion Councils and commodity boards each responsible for specific product categories. APEDA covers scheduled agricultural and processed food products. The Spice Board of India covers spices. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) covers marine products. The Tea Board covers tea. The Coffee Board covers coffee. Where a product falls under a specific commodity board, the exporter must register with that board, not APEDA. APEDA's schedule is the residual category for agricultural products not specifically covered by these other boards. Some exporters dealing in multiple product categories need separate RCMC registrations from more than one authority.

If there are changes in the entity's registered details after the RCMC is issued — such as a change in the company's registered address, change in directors or partners, change in the authorised signatory, or addition or removal of products from the export list — the exporter must update these details on the APEDA portal. APEDA may require supporting documents for the amendment. Operating with outdated RCMC details can lead to complications during customs clearance or at the time of claiming financial assistance, as the details on the RCMC must match those in the export documentation.

Yes. The APEDA RCMC is not country-specific and covers exports of scheduled products to all international markets. However, specific destination countries may impose their own import requirements such as phytosanitary certificates, food safety certifications, or origin certificates. APEDA assists registered exporters in obtaining phytosanitary certificates through the National Plant Protection Organisation and facilitates various commodity-specific certifications. Exporters targeting specific markets such as the European Union, the United States, or Gulf countries must additionally comply with those markets' import regulations in addition to holding the APEDA RCMC.