APEDA REGISTRATION

APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) is a statutory body established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It plays a pivotal role in promoting, developing, and facilitating the export of agricultural and processed food products from India to global markets. APEDA registration is mandatory for all exporters dealing in scheduled products such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, confectionery, and other processed food items listed under the Act. The primary objective of APEDA is to enhance the quality and competitiveness of Indian agricultural exports through effective marketing strategies, infrastructure development, and adherence to international food safety and quality standards. It serves as a bridge between Indian exporters and global buyers, helping businesses expand their international reach while ensuring compliance with export regulations. Entities that obtain APEDA registration gain several advantages, including access to financial assistance schemes, participation in international trade fairs, export promotion programs, and market intelligence reports. Additionally, APEDA assists exporters in branding, packaging development, quality certification, and training to ensure that Indian products meet the expectations of global consumers.

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Here are key points regarding APEDA registration:

Mandatory for Exporters: APEDA registration is mandatory for exporters of scheduled products, which include various agricultural commodities, processed food products, and certain other items.

Promotion of Export: APEDA works towards the development and promotion of export activities related to agricultural and processed food products to boost India's agricultural exports.

Quality Standards: APEDA ensures that the exported agricultural and processed food products meet the prescribed quality standards and comply with the regulations of the importing countries.

Research and Development: APEDA is involved in research and development activities to enhance the quality and competitiveness of Indian agricultural and processed food products in the international market.

Entities involved in the export of scheduled products are required to obtain APEDA registration. The registration process involves submitting the necessary documents and details about the business, along with the payment of the applicable fees. APEDA registration provides exporters with various benefits and support, including access to market information, assistance in marketing and promotion, and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions.

It's important for exporters to stay informed about the specific requirements and regulations related to the export of agricultural and processed food products, and APEDA registration plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with these standards.

Purpose & Applicability

Key Requirements & Documents

Procedure & Compliance

Benefits, Risks & Best Practices

Purpose & Applicability

It is the registration issued by APEDA to exporters of “scheduled” agricultural & processed food products. This certificate permits them to export those products legally under APEDA’s Act and enables access to various support schemes.

Any person or entity in India that intends to export one or more of the products listed under APEDA’s schedule (such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, processed foods, dairy, poultry, honey etc) must register with APEDA before or shortly after commencing export.

Because without it you may not be eligible for export of scheduled products, you may miss access to subsidies/incentives, may face customs/clearance issues, and your credibility with overseas buyers may be lower.

The application must generally be made within one month of undertaking export of scheduled products or within three months of the date the relevant section of the Act became applicable — whichever is later.

Key Requirements & Documents

The applicant must have a valid Import-Exporter Code (IEC) issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), must be a legal entity (company/firm/sole trader) in India, have a bank account in the entity’s name, and must be exporting or intending to export products scheduled u

Documents typically include: IEC certificate, bank certificate or statement for the entity’s account, proof of business registration (company/firm etc), photographs or address proof of registered office, and for manufacturer-exporters additional product-certification/registration (e.g

Yes — there is a registration fee which is approximately ?5,000 plus applicable GST (making the total about ?5,900) for new registration, to be paid at the time of application.

The RCMC issued by APEDA is valid for five years from date of issue. Thereafter, renewal is normally automatic on payment of renewal fee (no fresh documents in many cases) if eligible.

Procedure & Compliance

Steps include: register on APEDA’s portal, enter IEC and basic details, verify via OTP/email, complete the online application form by uploading required documents, pay the fee, submit the application, then track status. Upon approval you receive the RCMC certificate and login credenti

No — exporting scheduled items without APEDA registration may render your export non-compliant, may lead to penalties or difficulties in customs clearance, and you may lose eligibility for APEDA schemes.

They must maintain accurate export records, adhere to standards/quality requirements, file any required returns or reports to APEDA, comply with conditions of subsidies/incentives, inform APEDA of changes (address, business nature, etc.), and renew registration when due.

Non-compliance can lead to cancellation or suspension of registration, ineligibility for benefits, legal penalties (including fines or imprisonment in extreme cases), and loss of credibility with overseas buyers and regulators.

Benefits, Risks & Best Practices

Benefits include legal eligibility for export of scheduled agro/processed products, access to export-promotion subsidies and infrastructure support, higher credibility with global buyers, ability to participate in trade fairs/training programmes, and improved marketing opportunities.<

Challenges include meeting product-quality & regulatory standards of importing countries, keeping up with compliance requirements, avoiding delays or denials in export clearance, cost burdens of certification/testing, and managing international logistics and documentation.<

Avoid applying without valid IEC, using incomplete or inaccurate documentation, delaying registration until after exports, neglecting to maintain separate bank/accounting records, and ignoring renewal deadlines or subsidy conditions.

Best practices: verify that your product is listed under APEDA schedule, ensure your IEC and business registration are valid, maintain accurate bank records/accounts, draft quality assurance systems for export, renew registration timely, monitor export market trends and APEDA notifications, and leverage APEDA’s support/training programmes.

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