Spices Board RCMC Registration
Mandatory RCMC for exporters of notified spices under the Spices Board Act 1986
What is Spices Board RCMC Registration?
The Spices Board of India issues a Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) to exporters of all 52 notified spices including pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cumin, coriander, chillies, and ginger. RCMC is mandatory under Section 9A of the Spices Board Act 1986 for any person exporting spices from India. It is also required for availing export promotion schemes and quality certification programs administered by the Board.
The Spices Board of India was established under the Spices Board Act 1986 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Board is responsible for the development of the spice industry in India and the promotion and regulation of export of spices. The Board administers 52 notified spices ranging from pepper (Piper nigrum) and large and small cardamom to turmeric, chillies, ginger, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, celery, and a range of other culinary and medicinal spices. Any person wishing to export any of the 52 notified spices must register with the Spices Board and obtain an RCMC under Section 9A of the Spices Board Act. The registration requirement applies to every individual, partnership, company, or other entity engaging in spice export, regardless of the volume or value of exports. The RCMC serves as membership of the Spices Board and is required by customs authorities and DGFT for processing spice export declarations and incentive claims. The application is made on the eSPICES portal at eSPICES.gov.in. The applicant must provide entity details, IEC, the list of spices proposed for export, bank account details for export proceeds, and upload supporting documents. The Spices Board verifies the application and may conduct a premises inspection for manufacturers or processors. The RCMC is valid for five years. The Board also provides support to registered exporters through quality development programmes, market promotion activities, and capacity-building initiatives.
Who Needs Spices Board RCMC Registration?
All exporters of any of the 52 notified spices from India. This includes spice traders, processors, grinders, blenders, organic spice exporters, and spice product manufacturers.
What's Included
- Legal authority to export any of 52 notified spices from India
- Prerequisite for DGFT export schemes and duty drawback claims on spice exports
- Access to Spices Board quality development financial assistance
- Market promotion support including international trade fair participation facilitation
- Spice quality certification access under Board quality programmes
- Credibility with international buyers who require Board registration proof
⚠️ Penalty for Non-Compliance
Exporting notified spices without RCMC is an offence under Section 9A of the Spices Board Act 1986 and attracts penalties including suspension of export permission.
How It Works
- 1
eSPICES portal registration
Register on the eSPICES portal and complete the RCMC application form with entity, IEC, and spice details.
- 2
Document upload and fee payment
Upload all required documents and pay the RCMC registration fee through the online payment gateway.
- 3
Spices Board verification
The Board reviews the application and may conduct an inspection of the exporter premises, particularly for processors and manufacturers.
- 4
RCMC issuance and DGFT linking
The RCMC is issued electronically and must be linked to the IEC on the DGFT portal for export authorisation claims.
Documents Required
Items marked Required are mandatory; others are situational.
Core Documents
- IEC certificateRequired
- GST registration certificateRequired
- PAN of entityRequired
- Bank account details for export proceedsRequired
- List of notified spices for exportRequired
Fees & Pricing
Government Fees
Spices Board RCMC registration fee
Varies by exporter category; check current fee on eSPICES portal
Professional Fees
Registration application and eSPICES portal assistance
Quoted on review of your specific case
* Government fees may vary. GST applicable on professional fees. Final pricing confirmed after review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which spices require Spices Board RCMC?
All 52 spices notified by the Spices Board require registration. These include black pepper, cardamom, chilli, turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, star anise, celery seeds, and many others. The complete list is available on the Indian Spices website.
Is RCMC required for value-added spice products?
Yes. Processed and value-added spice products such as spice powders, spice blends, oleoresins, essential oils derived from notified spices, and curry powders containing notified spices all require RCMC.
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