Home › Quality & Compliance › APEDA Certification
APEDA Registration & Agricultural Export Certification
APEDA registration is the foundation of compliant agricultural and processed-food exports from India. We are an APEDA-registered exporter — and we help buyers source scheduled products with full APEDA-backed documentation.
What APEDA Means for Agricultural Exports
APEDA — the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority — is the government body, established under the APEDA Act 1985, responsible for promoting and regulating the export of scheduled agricultural and processed-food products from India.
Exporters of APEDA scheduled products must obtain a Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC). APEDA registration unlocks access to quality-development support, market information, and scheme benefits — and, for products like Basmati rice, APEDA also operates dedicated export-certification systems.
Understanding APEDA Registration
What exporters of agricultural and processed foods need to know.
The Role of APEDA
APEDA promotes and regulates exports of scheduled products, sets quality and packaging standards, supports infrastructure, and provides market intelligence to Indian exporters.
RCMC Registration
Exporters of scheduled products must hold an APEDA Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), applied for online with the IEC code and bank details.
Scheduled Products
APEDA’s schedule covers fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy, processed foods, cereals, and more — defining which exports fall under its purview.
Basmati Rice Certification
APEDA operates dedicated certification and traceability systems for Basmati rice exports, including variety and quality verification required by several markets.
Schemes & Support
Registered exporters can access APEDA’s quality-development assistance, market-development support, and packaging and infrastructure schemes.
Documents Required
IEC code, bank certificate, a cancelled cheque, and company details are needed for the RCMC application through the APEDA portal.
APEDA Compliance at Shashimanglam Export
How our APEDA registration supports your sourcing.
Active APEDA RCMC
We hold a valid APEDA Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate covering the scheduled agricultural and processed-food products we export.
Scheduled-Product Sourcing
We source APEDA scheduled products from registered, traceable supply networks aligned with APEDA quality and packaging norms.
Quality & Traceability
Products are backed by NABL lab testing and farm-to-shipment traceability, including APEDA Basmati certification where applicable.
Export Documentation
APEDA registration is presented alongside FSSAI, phytosanitary, and origin documentation for smooth customs clearance.
Why APEDA Registration Matters to Buyers
What an APEDA-registered supplier brings to your supply chain.
Regulatory Eligibility
APEDA RCMC confirms the exporter is legally registered to export scheduled agricultural products — a baseline check in buyer due diligence.
Basmati Assurance
For Basmati rice, APEDA’s certification and traceability systems give buyers verified variety and quality assurance.
Quality Standards
APEDA-aligned quality, grading, and packaging norms reduce the risk of rejected or non-compliant shipments at destination.
Trusted Sourcing
Sourcing through an APEDA-registered exporter connects buyers to a regulated, accountable agricultural supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is APEDA and what does it do?
What is an APEDA RCMC and who needs it?
Which products fall under APEDA?
Is APEDA registration required for Basmati rice export?
How long is an APEDA RCMC valid?
Source from an APEDA-Registered Exporter
Contact us for our APEDA credentials, scheduled-product specifications, and full export documentation for your order.
UNDERSTANDING APEDA
What Is APEDA & Why Does It Matter?
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body under India's Ministry of Commerce. It regulates export promotion, quality standards, and registration for over 60 scheduled product categories including fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, meat, dairy, and processed foods.
Statutory Authority
Established under the APEDA Act, 1985. Registration is legally mandatory for exporters of scheduled products to ensure food safety and quality compliance worldwide.
Scheduled Products
Covers fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, cereals, pulses, confectionery, chocolates, alcoholic beverages, processed foods, and non-basmati rice among others.
Financial Benefits
APEDA-registered exporters gain access to financial assistance schemes, market development support, quality upgradation programs, and subsidised trade fair participation.
Market Access
APEDA certification opens doors to the EU, USA, UK, Australia, Japan, and Middle East markets that require verified Indian certification for customs clearance and phytosanitary compliance.
Quality Standards
APEDA prescribes and monitors product specifications, grading, packaging, and labelling requirements that meet importing country standards and international food safety norms.
RCMC Registration
APEDA issues the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), which is required to avail export benefits, duty drawback, and scheme entitlements from DGFT and Customs.
CERTIFICATION ECOSYSTEM
Key Export Certifications We Manage
Beyond APEDA registration, successful agricultural exporters maintain a portfolio of certifications that address different market requirements and product categories.
HOW IT WORKS
APEDA Registration Process
From application to receiving your RCMC, the APEDA registration process typically takes 7–15 working days when all documents are in order. We handle every step.
IEC Registration
Obtain Importer Exporter Code from DGFT — prerequisite for APEDA registration and all export activities.
Document Preparation
Compile IEC, bank certificate, cancelled cheque, MoA, and product details. We audit your documents before submission.
Online Application
Submit application on APEDA's AGRI Exchange portal with registration fee. Typical fee: ₹5,000 + GST for 5-year RCMC.
APEDA Review
APEDA scrutinises the application and may request additional clarifications. We handle all correspondence and queries.
RCMC Issuance
Receive your Registration-cum-Membership Certificate. Start exporting with full APEDA compliance and access to all scheme benefits.
OUR ADVANTAGE
Why Exporters Trust Shashi Manglam for Certifications
Single-Window Service
APEDA, FSSAI, phytosanitary, organic, and ISO certifications all managed through one dedicated relationship manager. No running between agencies.
Fast Turnaround
APEDA RCMC in 7–15 days, phytosanitary certificates in 24–48 hours, FSSAI documents within the same week when documents are complete.
Renewal Management
We track all your certification expiry dates and initiate renewals proactively, so you never face export delays due to lapsed certifications.
Regulatory Updates
Trade regulations change frequently. We monitor APEDA circulars, DGFT policy notifications, and importing country updates to keep your exports compliant.
Market-Specific Guidance
Different markets require different certification combinations. We advise exactly which certificates you need for USA, EU, GCC, Australia, Japan, or any other target market.
Zero-Rejection Track Record
Our thorough pre-submission document audit eliminates application errors. Clients we manage have a 100% approval rate on APEDA and FSSAI applications.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
APEDA & Certification Questions
Is APEDA registration mandatory for all food exporters?
APEDA registration (RCMC) is mandatory specifically for exporters of "scheduled products" as defined under the APEDA Act. These include fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, cereals, pulses, confectionery, and alcoholic beverages. If you export non-scheduled food items like raw cotton or jute, APEDA registration is not required, but FSSAI and other certifications may still apply.
How long does APEDA registration take?
When all documents are correctly submitted, APEDA typically issues the RCMC within 7–15 working days. Incomplete applications or documents requiring clarification can extend this to 3–4 weeks. Our pre-submission audit ensures your application is complete and accurate, typically achieving approval within the 7–15 day window.
What documents are required for APEDA registration?
Core documents include: IEC certificate, bank certificate confirming your account details (on bank letterhead), cancelled cheque leaf, Company PAN card, Memorandum and Articles of Association (for companies), product list for which registration is sought, and a declaration form. We'll provide a complete checklist tailored to your business entity type.
Which organic certification is right for my target market?
It depends on your destination: For the EU and Switzerland, NPOP (India's National Programme for Organic Production) is recognised. For the USA, you need USDA NOP certification from a USDA-accredited certifying agent. For Japan, you need JAS organic certification. Australia has its own ACO standard. Many exporters who supply multiple markets maintain multiple certifications simultaneously. We help you identify the most cost-effective certification strategy.
Can APEDA registration be done for a startup exporter?
Yes. APEDA registration has no minimum export turnover requirement. Startup exporters with a valid IEC can register. In fact, obtaining APEDA registration early is advisable as it gives you access to financial assistance schemes, subsidised trade fair participation, and export promotion support that can be invaluable for new-to-export businesses.
What financial benefits do APEDA-registered exporters receive?
APEDA offers multiple financial schemes: Market Development Assistance (MDA) for participation in international trade fairs, Quality Development Support for HACCP and ISO certification costs, Infrastructure Development for pack houses and cold storage, Transport Assistance for air freight on high-value products, and Certification Fee Reimbursement for organic and GI certifications. Actual entitlements depend on product category and annual export volume.
START YOUR CERTIFICATION JOURNEY
Get APEDA Registered & Certification-Ready
Our compliance specialists will assess your product category, target markets, and current certification status to create a clear roadmap for full regulatory compliance.
APEDA Registered · FSSAI Compliant · Organic Certified · ISO 9001:2015