What Is APEDA Registration?
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to promote exports of agricultural and processed food products from India.
Exporters of products listed in the APEDA schedule – such as fruits, vegetables, basmati and non-basmati rice, meat, dairy, honey, pulses, beverages and processed foods – need a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) from APEDA. The RCMC is generally valid for five years and is needed to claim export benefits and APEDA assistance schemes.
Your APEDA RCMC, filed right the first time
- Product eligibility checked
- Application filed online
- Renewal tracked for you
Who Needs APEDA Registration?
- Manufacturer exporters of APEDA scheduled products
- Merchant exporters and traders of agri and food products
- Farmer producer organisations exporting their produce
- Exporters of organic products
Benefits
Export scheduled products
Required to export products listed under APEDA.
Financial assistance
Access to APEDA schemes for infrastructure, quality and market development.
Trade promotion
Take part in APEDA trade fairs and buyer-seller meets.
Market information
Product and market updates from APEDA for exporters.
Documents Required
- Import Export Code (IEC)
- PAN of the business
- GST registration certificate
- Cancelled cheque or bank certificate
- Incorporation proof – partnership deed, LLP or company certificate
- Address proof of the business
- Digital signature of the authorised signatory
APEDA Registration Process
Eligibility check
We confirm your products fall under the APEDA schedule.
IEC in place
We check that your IEC is active and updated.
Online application
The RCMC application is filed with APEDA online and the fee is paid.
Scrutiny
We respond to any query raised on the application.
RCMC issued
The certificate is issued, generally valid for five years.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without an active IEC – APEDA registration is linked to your IEC, so it must be active and updated.
- Wrong product category – Choose the products you actually export, as listed in the APEDA schedule.
- Mismatched details – Name, address and PAN must match across IEC, GST and the application.
- Missing renewal – Renew the RCMC before it expires to keep benefits running.
- Ignoring other approvals – Food exporters also need the right FSSAI licence and product-specific approvals.
After APEDA Registration
FSSAI licence
Food exporters need an FSSAI Central licence.
Export documents
Plan certificates of origin, phytosanitary or health certificates as needed.
AD code with customs
Register your bank AD code at the port of export.
RCMC renewal
Renew the certificate before its validity ends.
Why Choose Vaidam Consultancy for APEDA Registration
Export-focused team
We handle IEC, RCMC and export registrations together.
Clear quote upfront
You receive our fee and all government charges before we begin.
Documents checked first
Fewer queries because details match across IEC, GST and PAN.
Renewal reminders
We track your RCMC validity and remind you in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is required for exporters of products listed in the APEDA schedule, and to claim benefits and assistance under APEDA schemes.
The RCMC is generally valid for five years and can be renewed.
Yes. An active Import Export Code is needed before applying for APEDA registration.
Yes. Both manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters can register.
Usually a few working days after a complete application, subject to scrutiny by APEDA.