What is APEDA?
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is an apex statutory body established under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry by the Government of India. APEDA is tasked with the promotion and regulation of cross-border export of scheduled agricultural commodities and processed food products.
Under the Foreign Trade Policy, every business entity intending to export products falling within APEDA's scheduled list must register and obtain a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC). Without an active APEDA RCMC, customs appraisers will not permit export shipments of scheduled agricultural goods.
Scheduled Products Governed by APEDA
- Fruits & Vegetables: Fresh and dehydrated vegetables, mangoes, grapes, citrus fruits, and horticultural produce.
- Meat & Meat Products: Buffalo meat, poultry products, and sheep/goat meat products.
- Dairy Products: Milk powders, butter, ghee, and dairy fats.
- Cereals & Grains: Basmati rice, non-basmati rice, wheat, maize, millets, and cereal preparations.
- Processed Foods & Confectionery: Biscuits, bakery products, confectionery, cocoa preparations, and jams.
- Floriculture & Seeds: Cut flowers, ornamental plants, vegetable seeds, and herbal extracts.
- Guar Gum & Agro-Derivatives: Refined splits, treated guar gum powder, and agricultural meal.
Manufacturer Exporter vs. Merchant Exporter
| Registration Category | Eligibility Criteria | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Exporter | Traders sourcing from certified processors | Active IEC, Entity PAN, Bank Certificate, GSTIN |
| Manufacturer Exporter | Enterprises with owned/leased processing facilities | Factory license, FSSAI Central License, Pollution NOC, Processing unit photos |
Prerequisite Documentation
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Active DGFT IEC: Importer-Exporter Code reflecting accurate business name and constitution.
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Bank Certificate: Financial certificate signed by the bank manager confirming operational current account.
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FSSAI Food License: Central FSSAI license (mandated for edible goods exporters).
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List of Directors / Partners: Identity proofs and contact particulars of principal promoters.
How Ocean Technovative Delivers Support
Ocean Technovative assesses your product classifications against APEDA scheduled codes, drafts the online RCMC docket on the unified DGFT-RCMC interface, formats bank certificates, and monitors application review until official certificate issuance.
Official Evaluation Notice: APEDA RCMC certificates are issued solely by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. Ocean Technovative provides procedural advisory and document formatting support.