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RCMC Certificate

The APEDA RCMC (Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate) is the mandatory registration that lets you export scheduled agricultural and processed food products from...

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Key takeaways

The RCMC (Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate) is issued by APEDA under the APEDA Act, 1985.
It is mandatory for exporters of scheduled products listed in the First Schedule of the Act, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, cereals and processed foods.
You must hold a valid Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before applying.
The application is filed entirely online on the APEDA portal (apeda.gov.in).
The registration is a one-time certificate that remains valid perpetually unless cancelled, subject to filing returns and updates.
An RCMC unlocks export incentives, financial assistance and market-development schemes offered by APEDA.

Overview

What is the APEDA RCMC Certificate?

APEDA, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, established by the APEDA Act, 1985. It promotes and regulates the export of scheduled agricultural and processed food products from India.

The Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) is the official document confirming that an exporter is registered with APEDA. Any business intending to export the products listed in the First Schedule of the Act must obtain this certificate before commencing exports. It serves both as proof of registration and as membership of the authority, giving exporters access to APEDA’s services and benefit schemes.

Scheduled products covered by APEDA

Fruits, vegetables and their products
Meat, poultry and dairy products
Cereals, pulses and groundnuts
Floriculture and floriculture products
Honey, jaggery and sugar products
Cocoa, confectionery and biscuits
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Herbal and medicinal plants

Applicability

Who needs an RCMC?

Registration with APEDA is compulsory for anyone exporting the scheduled products. The category you register under depends on your role in the export chain.

Exporter category	Who it applies to
Manufacturer exporter	Businesses that manufacture or process the scheduled products and export them directly.
Merchant exporter	Traders who procure scheduled products from others and export them.
Both	Exporters operating as manufacturers as well as merchant traders.

Prerequisite	Detail
IEC	A valid Import Export Code from DGFT is mandatory.
Bank details	An active business bank account with a banker’s certificate.
Scheduled product	The export item must appear in the First Schedule of the APEDA Act.

How it works

The registration process, step by step

The entire RCMC process is online through the APEDA portal. We manage each stage so the certificate is issued without avoidable delays.

Online application

Register on the portal
Create an account on the APEDA portal using your IEC and registered email and mobile number.
Complete the form
Fill in the exporter details, product category and bank information accurately.
Upload documents
Attach the IEC, bank certificate, cancelled cheque and other supporting documents.
Pay the fee
Pay the prescribed registration fee online to submit the application.

Review and grant

Verification
APEDA reviews the application and the uploaded documents for completeness and accuracy.
Clarifications
If any document needs correction, APEDA raises a query that must be resolved promptly.
Issue of RCMC
Once approved, the RCMC is generated and made available for download from the portal.
Start exporting
With the RCMC in hand, you can legally export scheduled products and claim APEDA benefits.

Paperwork

Documents required

Import Export Code (IEC) issued by DGFT
Duly signed application on the firm’s letterhead
Bank certificate signed by the exporter’s banker
A cancelled cheque of the firm’s current account
Self-certified copy of the IEC issued by DGFT
PAN of the business entity
Details of the proprietor, partners or directors

Lifecycle

Validity & upkeep

The RCMC is a one-time registration that remains valid perpetually unless cancelled or surrendered.
Exporters must keep their details on the portal accurate and updated.
Annual export data and returns should be filed as required by APEDA.
The certificate can be amended online when business details change.

Need related approvals? See our FSSAI Registration and ISO Certification services to round out your export compliance.

Budgeting

Fees, timeline & factors

The cost of an RCMC has a fixed government component plus professional charges for documentation and filing. The typical components are:

Component	Details
Government registration fee	A prescribed fee payable online to APEDA on submission, plus applicable GST.
Documentation and filing	Preparation of the application, bank certificate and supporting documents.
Amendment fee	Payable if exporter details are later modified on the portal.
Processing time	The RCMC is typically issued within a few working days of a complete, query-free application.

Ready to start exporting?

Tell us your product and export plans, and we will confirm whether it is a scheduled product and map the exact RCMC documents and timeline for you.

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Why it matters

Benefits of an APEDA RCMC

Export eligibility

Become legally eligible to export scheduled agricultural and processed food products from India.

Financial assistance

Access APEDA’s financial-assistance schemes for infrastructure, quality and market development.

Market development

Participate in international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets and export-promotion programmes.

Training and guidance

Benefit from APEDA’s training on packaging, quality standards and export procedures.

Market intelligence

Use APEDA’s data on importing countries, prices and demand to plan your exports.

Credibility

An RCMC signals compliance and quality to overseas buyers and trade partners.

Compliance

Why the RCMC is mandatory

Under the APEDA Act, 1985, exporters of scheduled products must register with APEDA before exporting. Attempting to export these products without a valid RCMC means you cannot avail of customs and trade facilitation tied to the registration, and you forfeit access to APEDA’s incentives and schemes.

What registration secures for you

Lawful export of scheduled agri and food products.
Eligibility for incentives and financial-assistance schemes.
Smoother documentation across banking and customs.
Recognition as a registered exporter with APEDA.

Why us

Why Diligence Certifications

Export registrations turn on getting the details right the first time. We make sure your APEDA application is complete, accurate and approved without back-and-forth.

End-to-end filing

From portal registration to certificate download, we handle the entire process for you.

Document accuracy

We prepare and verify the bank certificate and supporting papers to avoid rejections.

Faster turnaround

A query-free, complete application means your RCMC is issued in the shortest realistic time.

Ongoing support

We help with amendments, returns and related export approvals as your business grows.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an APEDA RCMC certificate?

The RCMC (Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate) is the registration issued by APEDA under the APEDA Act, 1985 that allows a business to export scheduled agricultural and processed food products from India and to access APEDA’s schemes.

Who needs to register with APEDA?

Any manufacturer exporter, merchant exporter or trader exporting the products listed in the First Schedule of the APEDA Act, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, cereals and processed foods, must obtain an RCMC.

Is an Import Export Code required before applying?

Yes. A valid Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the DGFT is a prerequisite, and its details must be entered while applying for the RCMC.

How long is the RCMC valid?

The RCMC is a one-time registration that generally remains valid perpetually unless it is cancelled or surrendered, provided the exporter keeps details updated and files the required returns.

Can I apply for the RCMC online?

Yes. The entire process is online through the APEDA portal, where you register, fill the form, upload documents, pay the fee and download the certificate once approved.

How long does it take to get the RCMC?

For a complete application with all documents in order, the RCMC is typically issued within a few working days. Incomplete applications or pending queries can extend the timeline.

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