APEDA Registration
Table of Contents
Who Needs APEDA Registration?
- Individuals : A sole proprietor who wishes to become an exporter of food or farm products.
- Business Entities : Partnership firms, LLPs, companies limited privately and other organizations involved in export.
- Merchant Exporters : Businesses that may not manufacture their own goods but instead buy them in the domestic market and sell in foreign markets.
- First-Time Exporters : Anyone intending to start exporting agricultural or processed food products must obtain APEDA Registration before their first export shipment.
Mandatory vs Optional APEDA Registration
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | If you export goods specified in the APEDA Act, 1985 such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, honey, jaggery, confectionery, poultry, floriculture, etc., APEDA Registration is mandatory. These products cannot be exported from India without it. |
| Optional | Registration is not mandatory in relation to products that are not listed in the Schedule of APEDA. Nonetheless, most exporters prefer to be registered to receive government incentives, brand support, quality certifications and also have the opportunity of being promoted to trade internationally. |
Documents Required for APEDA Registration
- PAN Card : PAN of company, firm or individual applicant which is the significant tax identification.
- Import Export Code (IEC) : It is a mandatory certificate issued by DGFT to involve in any export or import business.
- Bank Certificate or Cancelled Cheque : Document of an operating bank account in the name of the business that is signed by the bank officials.
- Business Address Proof : Original documents are required such as electricity bill or rent agreement or property papers to prove the business location.
- Business Registration Documents : It will be based on the nature of the business: Memorandum and Articles of association with companies, Partnership Deed and LLP Agreement with LLPs.
- List of Directors or Partners : Names of all the major stakeholders of the business and contact addresses and position.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) : It is necessary to make the application online and verify the documents safely.
Benefits of APEDA Registration
- Mandatory Compliance : According to APEDA, 1985, an exporter cannot legally export scheduled products, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, etc.
- Credibility and Trust : An APEDA (RCMC), Registration Cum Membership Certificate creates your reputation and makes international buyers confident that you are a recognised and trustworthy exporter.
- Government Benefits : Registered exporters are eligible to receive financial support and subsidies, export incentives and market development schemes by APEDA and Government of India.
- Smooth Global Trade : APEDA assists exporters to meet quality certifications, training, attending international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and international promotion.
- Lifetime Validity : The most interesting fact is that APEDA Registration is a one time process and lifetime validity implies that no annual renewals are required.
Step by Step APEDA Registration with LegalFidelity
Checking and Consultation of Eligibility.
We will first learn about your business and products so that we know that you require APEDA registration.
Document Review
The IEC, PAN, GST, bank details, company documents and ID of the authorized individual are all scrutinized properly by our employees, to make sure that there will be no rejection of anything in the future.
Application Preparation
We also fill APEDA forms correctly and make all online copies of your documents.
Online Submission
The application shall be subsequently submitted via the portal of the APEDA together with the required payment.
Verification and Follow up
We monitor the status of the application, respond to any queries asked and correct it in case the portal requests to correct.
Certificate Issuance
After a registration has been issued, you receive the Registration Certificate (RCMC) of APEDA.
APEDA Registration Fees
For APEDA registration, a one time government fee is charged & the certificate is granted with a lifetime validity. Currently the registration fees is ₹5,000 + 18% GST which equals ₹5,900.
APEDA RCMC (Registration Cum Membership Certificate)
After APEDA Registration, a certificate is issued which is called the RCMC or Registration Cum Membership Certificate.
This certificate is your valid proof of registration by APEDA. It certifies that your business is authorised to export the agricultural products under the Scheduled List of APEDA in India.
It allows you to enjoy export benefits and programs and provides credibility to international customers who usually prefer to transact with exporters having a valid RCMC .
Validity & Renewal of APEDA RCMC Certificate
Previously, the RCMC issued by APEDA had a duration of five years. However, under the new policy amendments, APEDA Registration and the RCMC are lifetime valid. Hence, you do not require renewal on a periodical basis.
However, exporters are required to notify and update APEDA in case of any change in important information like address of the company, directors, or bank account. It is necessary to keep your records up to date to ensure that your certificate remains valid and compliant as per law.
Time Taken for APEDA Registration
The APEDA Registration process normally takes around 7 to 10 working days to be approved.
Post Registration Compliance for APEDA Exporters
After registration the APEDA RCMC exporters require to fulfill some compliance requirements to continue enjoying government schemes:
- Maintain Proper Export documentation: Goods invoices, bills of loading, quality certificates, and shipment records will need to be available to be viewed by APEDA or to claim subsidies.
- File Report and keep updated: Export reports are supposed to be uploaded upon demand and APEDA compliance and DGFT compliance are to be adhered to in relation to avoidance of fines.
- Other Important Registrations: Exporters should also take import export code, icegate registration and ad code registration for smooth customs clearance
APEDA Registration for Exporters: Key Product Categories
List of Scheduled Products under APEDA
- Fruits, vegetables and related products: Fresh, frozen or processed products can be exported.
- Meat, poultry, and dairy items: It includes all animal-based food items that are legally approved.
- Food products, candy, honey, jaggery and cocoa products: Sweeteners, chocolates and other processed product
- Floriculture and horticulture products: Ornamental plants, flowers and related products.
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks: Authorized drinks, juices, and spirits to be sold in the foreign market.
Agricultural & Processed Food Categories
- Cereals and grains: These are Rice, wheat, maize, and other staple grains.
- Meat and poultry: This includes chicken, mutton, buffalo meat and so on.
- Dairy products: These include milk powder, cheese, butter and so on.
- Processed foods: Pickles, papads, jam and jelly and other preserved foods.
- Beverages: Wines, beer, herbal drinks and other approved drinks.
Conclusion
APEDA Registration is a ticket to international markets to the Indian exporters of agricultural and processed food products. With this certificate, businesses will have a formal permission to export, as well as access to government incentive, buyer trust, and opportunities of trade internationally.
LegalFidelity makes the process smooth, accurate and hassle-free with your help. We make sure that at each stage there is compliance, so you can proceed with developing your export business without any worry.