The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority is responsible for 51% of India’s agricultural exports, valued at USD 53.1 billion.
India’s agricultural exports have been greatly accelerated by APEDA, which has also improved the country’s economic growth and competitiveness in international trade.
India has become a prominent global supplier of processed food items and a variety of agricultural commodities due to the authority’s strategic initiatives and unwavering efforts.
The majority of the work that the APEDA does is guided by its mission and the scope of work that has been delegated to it throughout all of its categories, which are mostly made up of the industries that produce fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, animal, dairy, and poultry products, and grains.
What is APEDA?
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act of 1985.
It is the highest-ranking Export Trade Promotion Active entity that reports to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
13% of India’s exports and 6% of its overall industrial investment come from agriculture. Because of government initiatives to support the agricultural sector, including soil health cards, storage facilities, agricultural infrastructure, and irrigation regulations, the agricultural and processed food products industries are expected to thrive.
APEDA is a key player in the Indian agricultural export market, coordinating initiatives to increase the export of agricultural and processed food items.
It also promotes exports by way of several initiatives, such as the Market Access Initiative (MAI) and the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES).
Table of Contents:
- What is APEDA?
- What is APEDA registration?
- Aim of APEDA certificate
- Function Of APEDA
- Role of APEDA in promoting agriculture trade
- List of products in Apeda
- Documents required for APEDA registration
- APEDA Registration process
- Benefits of APEDA
- Conclusion
What is APEDA Registration or RCMC Registration?
Exporters of Scheduled food products under the APEDA Act are granted APEDA registration, also known as registration-cum-membership-certification (RCMC), by the APEDA authorities. No exporter may begin operations for enlisted food items by the standards if they do not hold an RCMC membership.
Aim of APEDA Certificate:
In the global food market, APEDA seeks to encourage the export of scheduled food products, registering exporters of the food product on the schedule. It aids in the growth of the industries that produce scheduled food items for export.
Functions:
Promotion and Development:
It spearheads initiatives aimed at promoting the export of scheduled products through various strategies, including market research, product development, and promotional activities domestically and internationally.
Quality Control:
For agricultural and processed food items to be successful in the export market, quality control is essential.
APEDA establishes guidelines and standards, carries out quality control procedures, and performs inspections to ensure that products remain true to their original specifications and satisfy global standards.
Market Access:
Facilitating market access for Indian agricultural products is a key function of APEDA. Through negotiations and collaborations with foreign governments and trade bodies, APEDA works to overcome trade barriers and enhance market opportunities for Indian exporters.
Capacity Building:
APEDA offers training programs, workshops, and seminars to enhance the capabilities of stakeholders involved in the agricultural export sector. These efforts increase exporters’ capacity with knowledge and skills to compete effectively in the international market.
Research and Development:
Sustaining export growth requires staying up-to-date with consumer preferences, technology developments, and market changes.
APEDA conducts research and development activities to identify emerging opportunities and support innovation in the agricultural export sector.
Role of APEDA in promoting agriculture trade:
- The authority is now a key component of the government’s success in encouraging agricultural product exports. APEDA’s share in agricultural product exports is composed of 59% cereals and fresh horticulture products, 23% cereal preparations and other processed items, and 18% animal products.
- To facilitate business dealings and support the expansion of Indian exports, APEDA has supported IT-enabled projects aimed at promoting agricultural exports. The organization has undertaken various initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, including the paperless office (re-engineering, digital signatures, and electronic payment facility), the APEDA mobile app, phased delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access, and virtual trade fair.
- Along with indigenous and ethnic agricultural products, the authority has been concentrating on promoting the export of Geographical Indication (GI) items sourced locally to fulfill the Prime Minister’s request for “vocal for local” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
- New items and export locations have been found by APEDA, and trial shipments have been made easier as a result. Almost 100 registered GI-tagged agricultural products—such as cereals, fresh fruits, vegetables, processed goods, etc.—fall under the APEDA scheduled product category out of the 150 GI-tagged agricultural products to date.
- APEDA established the first traceability system for grape exports to EU countries in 2005–2006. It is now available for organic products (Tracenet), meat products (Meat.net), and peanuts (Peanut.net). More product traceability solutions are being developed.
- APEDA has included a Blockchain solution into its GrapeNet traceability platform to encourage the usage of hybrid technology.
To facilitate communication between exporters and cooperatives or farmer producers organizations (FPOs/FPCs), APEDA has set up a farmer connect portal on its website. Thus far, 3,315 exporters and 3,295 FPO/FPCs have registered on the portal.
List of Products under APEDA
APEDA’s mandate includes the development and promotion of exports for the following planned items.
First Schedule:
- Dairy Goods.
- Confectionery, Biscuits & Bakery Products.
- Jaggery Honey, & Sugar-based Products.
- Chocolates of various varieties, as well as cocoa and its products.
- Beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
- Cereal and Cereal Products.
- Walnuts, peanuts, and groundnuts.
- Chutneys, Papads, and Pickles.
- Guar Gum.
- Floriculture and Floriculture Products.
- Medicinal and herbal plants.
- Rice bran that has been de-oiled.
- Green pepper marinated with brine.
- Cashew Nuts and their Confections
Second schedule of the APEDA Act.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has released export data that highlights the consistent development trajectory of India’s basmati rice, with commerce and exports rising yearly.
In April through August 2021–2022 and 2023–2024, there was an astounding 71% increase in the amount of rice traded internationally.
With 20.10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) exported, the nation’s basmati exports have hit Rs 18,310.35 crore in the current fiscal year.
Documents required for APEDA Registration:
The following documents are required for APEDA registration:
- Application form properly completed and signed
- FSSAI license registration
- IEC copy from DGFT
- Business bank account statement
- Bank certificate endorsed by authorities; canceled check
What is the APEDA Registration or RCMC Registration Process?
Within one month following the date of their business’s incorporation, applicants must submit the application form. Once the application is properly filed and the payments are paid, APEDA issues a Registration-Cum-Membership-Certificate (RCMC) as part of the membership. The detailed registration procedure is listed below:
Step 1: For registration, go to the APEDA website.
Step 2: Select “Register as Member” by clicking.
Step 3: Provide the required information, including the import-export code and contact details. Press the “Submit” button.
Step 4: To verify the information you provided, an OTP will be delivered to the registered email address and mobile number you provided. Go ahead and click submit to continue.
Step 5: After completing the verification process, you need to finish the online application by filling out the necessary fields and attaching the necessary files.
Step 6: Pay the required registration fees using payment options.
Step 7: Upon payment completion, an application number is issued. Keep this for use as a future reference.
Step 8: You will receive login information on the email address you registered with after issuing RCMC. By selecting the exporter login option, you can access your account.
Step 9: By selecting the “track application” option, you may see the status of your RCMC application.
Step 10: To get RCMC, use the “view RCMC certificate” option from the RCMC menu.
Benefits of APEDA Registration
- Exporting scheduled items requires APEDA certification.
- Exporters can apply for a variety of APEDA-provided financial aid programs.
- It offers database updates, testing, and advertising package construction, among other services, to help exporters sell their brands.
- Exporters can learn more about different commodities and exporting nations.
- To increase members’ efficiency, APEDA can register them for classes in the many scheduled product categories that APEDA offers.
In conclusion, APEDA stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity for India’s agricultural sector, catalyzing export growth, driving economic development, and fostering inclusive prosperity.
As India marches towards its vision of becoming a global agricultural powerhouse, the role of APEDA in facilitating trade, ensuring quality, and promoting innovation becomes increasingly critical.
By harnessing the collective efforts of farmers, exporters, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, APEDA paves the way for a vibrant and resilient agricultural export ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders involved.
As we embrace the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving global marketplace, let us reaffirm our commitment to harnessing the full potential of APEDA and unleashing the boundless possibilities of Indian agriculture on the world stage.
FAQs
1. What is the total fee for Apeda registration?
Ans- The professional registration charge is ₹2,999, whereas the government registration fee for APEDA is ₹5,900, inclusive of 18% GST. As a result, ₹8,899 is the entire cost of APEDA registration.
2. What is the time taken to acquire an APEDA license?
Ans- APEDA will be assigned In 10- 15 days after the necessary paperwork is submitted.
3. What is the requirement of APEDA registration?
- Only one-time registration is required.
- Required exporters of goods on a schedule
- Permits enrolled participants to take part in training courses tailored to different industry facets.
- Registration is required before applying for the APEDA financial assistance program.
4. What is RCMC registration?
Ans- The RCMC is a registration cum membership certificate. With this certificate, the business is authorized to export goods and benefit from favorable trade policies in the world today. The RCMC certificate is issued by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO).
