APEDA Registration — Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Exporters

If you want to export agricultural or processed food products from India, you must register with APEDA. There is no way around this — without APEDA registration, you cannot legally export any of the 14 product groups under the APEDA Act. Indian Customs will not allow your shipment to proceed, and you will not be eligible for any of the financial assistance schemes that APEDA offers to exporters.

APEDA — the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority — operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It was established in 1986 under the APEDA Act to promote the export of scheduled agricultural and processed food products. For food and agri exporters, APEDA registration is as fundamental as the IEC (Import Export Code). In fact, you need your IEC first before you can register with APEDA.

The registration process is entirely online, costs Rs 5,000 for a 5-year period, and is typically approved within 5-7 working days. This guide walks you through every step, from checking whether your products fall under APEDA's mandate to completing the registration and accessing APEDA's financial assistance schemes.

What Is APEDA?

APEDA is the apex body for promoting exports of agricultural and processed food products from India. Its functions include:

• Mandatory registration of exporters dealing in scheduled products
• Financial assistance for market development, infrastructure, quality improvement, and transport
• Market intelligence — trade data, buyer information, and market surveys
• Quality standards and certification — including organic certification through TraceNet
• Buyer-seller meets and trade delegations — connecting Indian exporters with international buyers
• Policy advocacy — representing exporter interests to the government

APEDA does not directly export anything. It is a regulatory and promotional body. Your APEDA registration is essentially a licence to export the products under its mandate, combined with membership in an organisation that actively helps you find buyers and subsidises your market development costs.

Who Needs APEDA Registration?

You need APEDA registration if you export any product that falls under the 14 scheduled product groups defined in the APEDA Act. This includes both raw and processed forms of these products.

Complete List of Scheduled Products Under APEDA

Group No.	Product Group	Examples
1	Fruits, vegetables, and their products	Fresh mangoes, grapes, onions, potatoes, frozen vegetables, fruit pulp, pickles, canned vegetables
2	Meat and meat products	Buffalo meat, sheep/goat meat, poultry, processed meat
3	Dairy products	Milk powder, ghee, butter, cheese, casein
4	Confectionery, biscuits, and bakery products	Biscuits, cakes, wafers, bread, confectionery
5	Honey, jaggery, and sugar products	Natural honey, jaggery, sugar confectionery
6	Cocoa and its products, chocolates	Cocoa powder, cocoa butter, chocolate products
7	Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages	Fruit juices, soft drink concentrates, beer, spirits (excluding tea and coffee)
8	Cereal and cereal products	Basmati rice, non-basmati rice, wheat, flour, malt extract, breakfast cereals
9	Groundnuts, peanuts, and walnuts	Raw and processed groundnuts, peanut butter, walnuts
10	Pickles, papads, and chutneys	All varieties of pickles, papads, chutneys, and sauces
11	Guar gum	Guar gum powder, guar gum splits
12	Floriculture and floriculture products	Fresh cut flowers, dried flowers, indoor plants, seeds and bulbs
13	Herbal and medicinal plants	Herbal extracts, dried herbs, medicinal plant products
14	Organic products	Any of the above product groups in organic certified form

Products NOT under APEDA (common confusion):

• Spices — regulated by the Spices Board, not APEDA
• Tea — regulated by the Tea Board
• Coffee — regulated by the Coffee Board
• Tobacco — regulated by the Tobacco Board
• Marine products — regulated by MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority)
• Cashew — regulated by the Cashew Export Promotion Council (CEPCI)

If you are unsure whether your product falls under APEDA, check the HS code classification. APEDA's website (apeda.gov.in) lists all HS codes under its mandate. You can also use the HS Code Finder to identify your product's HS code and then cross-reference it with APEDA's scheduled product list.

Benefits of APEDA Registration

1. Legal Requirement for Export

This is not optional. If your product falls under APEDA's scheduled list, you must be registered before your first shipment. Indian Customs and port authorities verify APEDA registration before allowing export clearance for scheduled products. Shipping without registration can result in shipment detention and penalties.

2. RCMC (Registration Cum Membership Certificate)

Your APEDA registration serves as your RCMC for the agricultural and processed food sector. The RCMC is mandatory for:

• Claiming export incentives under DGFT schemes (RoDTEP, duty drawback, advance authorisation)
• Accessing DGFT benefits like duty-free import of inputs for export production
• Participating in government-sponsored trade delegations

Without an RCMC from APEDA (or another relevant EPC), you cannot claim any export incentive from the government — even if you are already exporting and paying all applicable duties.

3. Financial Assistance Schemes

APEDA offers several financial assistance schemes that directly subsidise your export costs. These are grant-based — you do not need to repay them. Details are covered in a separate section below.

4. Market Intelligence and Trade Data

Registered exporters get access to APEDA's trade data portal — product-wise and country-wise export statistics, buyer databases, market survey reports, and regulatory requirements in destination countries.

5. Buyer-Seller Meets and Trade Delegations

APEDA organises 30-40 buyer-seller meets annually, both in India and abroad, bringing pre-screened international buyers face-to-face with Indian exporters. Registration is free or heavily subsidised. See the guide on finding international buyers for more on leveraging these events.

6. TraceNet for Organic Exports

If you export organic products, APEDA's TraceNet system provides farm-to-export traceability, which is mandatory for organic exports to the EU and increasingly required by buyers globally.

7. Quality and Standards Support

APEDA helps exporters meet international quality standards through training programmes (HACCP, ISO 22000), laboratory testing support, packaging and labelling guidance, and phytosanitary compliance assistance.

Prerequisites Before Applying

Before you start the APEDA registration process, make sure you have the following in place:

Prerequisite	Details
IEC (Import Export Code)	Mandatory. Apply on dgft.gov.in if you do not have one — see the IEC guide
GSTIN	GST registration certificate
PAN Card	PAN of the firm/company
Bank Account	Current account in the firm's name
Business Registration	Proprietorship, partnership deed, or Certificate of Incorporation
Factory/processing unit	Physical premises for manufacturing or processing (not mandatory for merchant exporters, but needed for manufacturer exporters)

Merchant exporter vs manufacturer exporter: A merchant exporter buys from other manufacturers and exports. A manufacturer exporter produces goods in their own facility. APEDA registers both, but manufacturer exporters need to provide factory address and processing details.

Step-by-Step APEDA Registration Process

Step 1: Visit the APEDA Registration Portal

Go to apeda.gov.in and click on "Exporters" or navigate to the registration section. The direct link for online registration is typically under Exporters → Registration → Online Registration.

APEDA has moved the entire registration process online. You do not need to visit any APEDA office physically.

Step 2: Create an Account

Click on "New Registration" and create your account. You will need:

• Email address (this will be your login ID)
• Mobile number
• IEC number

APEDA will verify your IEC against the DGFT database. If your IEC is not valid or has been deactivated, you cannot proceed. Make sure your IEC is active and updated — DGFT requires annual IEC updates between April and June.

Step 3: Fill in the Application Form

The online application form has several sections:

Company/Firm Details:

• Legal name of the firm (must match IEC exactly)
• Constitution (proprietorship, partnership, LLP, private limited, etc.)
• Registered office address
• Factory/processing unit address (if applicable)
• Year of establishment
• Annual turnover

Product Details:

• Select the scheduled product groups you want to register for (you can select multiple groups)
• Specify the products within each group
• Mention the HS codes for your products — use the HS Code Finder to identify correct codes
• Indicate whether you are a manufacturer exporter or merchant exporter

Export Experience:

• Countries you have exported to (if any)
• Annual export turnover (if applicable)
• Names of existing buyers (if any)
• New exporters with no prior experience can also register — prior export experience is not a requirement

Bank Details:

• Bank name, branch, and IFSC code
• Current account number
• This must be the same account reflected in your IEC

Authorised Signatory:

• Name, designation, and contact details of the person authorised to sign export documents

Step 4: Upload Documents

Upload scanned copies of the following documents:

Document	Format	Size Limit
IEC certificate	PDF	2 MB
PAN card of the firm	PDF/JPEG	1 MB
GST registration certificate	PDF	2 MB
Cancelled cheque or bank certificate	PDF/JPEG	1 MB
Business registration proof (partnership deed, CoI, etc.)	PDF	2 MB
Address proof of registered office	PDF	2 MB
Photograph of the authorised signatory	JPEG	500 KB
Factory licence/FSSAI licence (if manufacturer exporter)	PDF	2 MB

Tips for document upload:

• Ensure all documents are legible — blurry scans will trigger queries
• The name on all documents must match exactly across IEC, PAN, GST, and bank account
• FSSAI licence is particularly important for processed food exporters — obtain it before or concurrently with APEDA registration

Step 5: Pay the Registration Fee

The registration fee is Rs 5,000 for a period of 5 years. Payment is made online through the APEDA portal via net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI. There are no annual fees. After 5 years, you renew by paying Rs 5,000 again.

Step 6: Submit Application

Review all details, ensure all documents are uploaded, and submit the application. You will receive an application reference number. Note this down — you will use it to track the status of your application.

Step 7: APEDA Verification and Approval

APEDA staff review your application and documents — cross-checking your IEC with the DGFT database, verifying PAN and GST details, and confirming product classification against the scheduled product list.

Timeline: 5-7 working days for standard applications. If APEDA raises a query, add another 5-7 working days after you respond.

Step 8: Receive Your Registration Certificate

Once approved, APEDA issues your registration certificate with a unique APEDA Registration Code (APEDA RC Number), available for download from the portal. Print this certificate and keep it with your export documents — you will need your APEDA RC number on shipping bills for scheduled products.

RCMC Through APEDA

Your APEDA registration automatically serves as your RCMC for DGFT purposes. You do not need a separate RCMC from another Export Promotion Council for APEDA-scheduled products. When filing for RoDTEP, duty drawback, or advance authorisation on the DGFT portal, enter your APEDA RC number as your RCMC number. The RCMC validity aligns with your APEDA registration (5 years).

Important: If you export both APEDA-scheduled products and non-APEDA products (say, engineering goods), you need a separate RCMC from the relevant EPC (EEPC India, in this case) for the non-APEDA products.

APEDA Financial Assistance Schemes

These schemes are the real value of APEDA registration beyond the legal requirement. APEDA allocates a significant budget annually for export promotion, and registered exporters can claim financial assistance for the following activities:

1. Transport Assistance Scheme

Parameter	Details
Purpose	Offset high freight costs for export of APEDA-scheduled products
Coverage	Partial reimbursement of international freight charges
Eligible exporters	All APEDA-registered exporters
How to apply	Submit claim through APEDA portal with shipping documents, freight invoices, and bank realisation certificates
Processing time	60-90 days after claim submission

Transport assistance rates vary by product and destination. APEDA publishes the applicable rates annually. This scheme is particularly valuable for perishable products (fruits, vegetables, flowers) where air freight costs are high.

2. Market Development Assistance

Parameter	Details
Purpose	Help exporters participate in international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and market promotion activities
Coverage	Up to 75% of booth rental for MSMEs; airfare assistance for one representative
Eligible activities	International food exhibitions (Gulfood, SIAL, Anuga, BIOFACH), buyer-seller meets, road shows
How to apply	Through APEDA before the event — advance registration required

APEDA organises group participation in major international food exhibitions. The cost to individual exporters is a fraction of what it would be to participate independently. See the guide on finding international buyers for a full list of relevant trade shows.

3. Infrastructure Development Scheme

Parameter	Details
Purpose	Develop export-related infrastructure — cold storage, pack houses, processing units, testing laboratories
Coverage	Up to 40-50% of project cost (subject to caps)
Eligible entities	APEDA-registered exporters, cooperatives, state agencies
How to apply	Submit detailed project report to APEDA for approval before starting construction

4. Quality Development Scheme

Parameter	Details
Purpose	Help exporters meet international quality and safety standards
Coverage	Assistance for obtaining certifications (HACCP, ISO 22000, BRC, organic), laboratory testing, quality improvement
Eligible exporters	APEDA-registered MSMEs
How to apply	Submit application with certification cost estimates to APEDA

How to Apply for Financial Assistance

1. Check scheme guidelines. APEDA publishes detailed guidelines for each scheme on apeda.gov.in. Read the eligibility criteria, coverage limits, and documentation requirements.
2. Submit application before the activity. For market development and infrastructure schemes, you must get APEDA's approval before incurring the expense. Post-facto claims are generally not accepted.
3. Maintain complete documentation. Keep all invoices, receipts, boarding passes, booth contracts, and bank statements. APEDA audits claims before disbursement.
4. Submit claims promptly. Submit your reimbursement claim within the specified deadline (usually 60-90 days). Late submissions may be rejected.

Organic Export Registration — TraceNet

If you export organic products, APEDA is the nodal agency for organic export certification in India. The process involves:

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)

India's organic certification programme, managed by APEDA, is recognised by the EU, Switzerland, and several other countries as equivalent to their own organic standards. This means products certified under NPOP can be exported as "organic" to these countries without additional certification.

TraceNet Registration

TraceNet is APEDA's online traceability system for organic products. It tracks the entire supply chain from farm to export, ensuring the integrity of organic certification.

How to register on TraceNet:

1. Get your land/farm certified organic by an NPOP-accredited certification body (this takes 2-3 years for the conversion period)
2. Register on the TraceNet portal (tracenet.apeda.gov.in)
3. Enter details of your certified organic farms, processing units, and supply chain
4. Get a Transaction Certificate (TC) for each export consignment from your certification body
5. Log the TC on TraceNet before shipping

Countries requiring TraceNet:

• EU countries (mandatory for organic imports from India)
• Switzerland
• Other countries increasingly asking for TraceNet traceability

Renewal Process

APEDA registration is valid for 5 years. Here is what you need to do for renewal:

When to renew: Apply for renewal at least 30 days before your registration expires. Do not wait until the last day — if your registration lapses, you cannot legally export scheduled products until renewal is processed.

How to renew:

1. Log in to the APEDA portal with your existing credentials
2. Navigate to Exporters → Registration → Renewal
3. Update any changed details (address, bank account, product groups, authorised signatory)
4. Upload current documents
5. Pay Rs 5,000 renewal fee
6. Submit for approval

Timeline: 3-5 working days if documents are in order. If your registration has already lapsed, apply immediately — you cannot ship scheduled products until renewal is confirmed.

Common Mistakes That Delay APEDA Registration

Not having an IEC first. APEDA registration requires a valid IEC. If you apply without an IEC, your application will be rejected at the first step. Get your IEC first — it takes only 1-3 days. See the IEC guide.

Wrong product classification. Selecting the wrong product group or HS code delays processing. If you are exporting processed food, make sure you select the correct group (Group 4 for biscuits, Group 8 for cereals, Group 10 for pickles, etc.). Use the HS Code Finder to verify your product's classification.

Name mismatch across documents. The firm name on your IEC, PAN, GST certificate, and bank account must match exactly. Even minor differences ("Pvt Ltd" vs "Private Limited" or "&" vs "and") can trigger queries. Fix discrepancies before applying.

Incomplete document uploads. Uploading only the first page of a multi-page document, or uploading a blurry scan, will cause APEDA to raise a query. Upload complete, clear documents the first time.

Not registering before the first shipment. Some exporters assume they can register after receiving their first export order. This is wrong — your APEDA registration must be in place before your goods are presented for customs clearance. Customs will reject your shipping bill if you do not have a valid APEDA RC number for scheduled products.

Forgetting FSSAI licence for processed food. If you are a manufacturer exporter of processed food products, you need an FSSAI licence. APEDA may not reject your application without it, but buyers and destination country regulators will require it. Get your FSSAI licence concurrently with APEDA registration.

Not applying for financial assistance. Many registered exporters are unaware of APEDA's financial assistance schemes. You are leaving money on the table if you are paying full freight and trade show costs when APEDA will reimburse 40-75%. Review scheme guidelines on apeda.gov.in immediately after registration.

After Registration — Checklist for New APEDA Exporters

Once you receive your APEDA registration, here is what to do next:

1. Download and print your registration certificate. Keep it with your export document file.
2. Note your APEDA RC number. You will need this on every shipping bill for scheduled products.
3. Register on ICEGATE if you have not already — you need this for electronic customs filing.
4. Get your FSSAI licence if you are exporting processed food products.
5. Check the APEDA event calendar. Look for upcoming buyer-seller meets and trade delegations. Register early — slots fill up quickly.
6. Review financial assistance schemes. Identify which schemes apply to your business and plan your export activities to maximise the benefits.
7. Explore export markets for your products. Research the regulatory requirements, buyer preferences, and competitive landscape in your target countries.
8. Understand your export documentation requirements. Scheduled products often need additional documents — phytosanitary certificates for fruits and vegetables, health certificates for meat and dairy, fumigation certificates for rice and cereals.
9. Get a Certificate of Origin if your buyer's country has a trade agreement with India — this can significantly reduce the import duty on your products.
10. Use the Market Finder to identify the best destination countries for your specific product based on demand, competition, and regulatory ease.

Key Takeaways

• APEDA registration is mandatory for exporting any of the 14 scheduled product groups — fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, cereals, processed food, organic products, floriculture, and others
• You need a valid IEC before applying for APEDA registration
• Registration is entirely online at apeda.gov.in, costs Rs 5,000 for 5 years, and takes 5-7 working days
• APEDA registration doubles as your RCMC — essential for claiming DGFT export incentives like RoDTEP and duty drawback
• APEDA offers financial assistance for transport, market development, infrastructure, and quality certification — registered MSMEs can get 40-75% reimbursement on eligible expenses
• For organic exports, register on APEDA's TraceNet system — this is mandatory for exporting organic products to the EU
• Renew your registration before the 5-year validity expires to avoid any gap in your export capability
• Keep all documents matching — firm name, PAN, IEC, GST, and bank account must be consistent across all registrations
• Do not ship scheduled products without a valid APEDA registration — Customs will reject your shipping bill