This article provides an overview of the registration process of APEDA, its benefits, and the certification agencies for APEDA registration as per the food product.
APEDA registration is a government-established agency that promotes and develops exports of processed food and agriculture products that are deemed scheduled products under the APEDA Act 1985. APEDA provides standards, knowledge, and funding for the manufacturing of scheduled items. In accordance with the APEDA Act 1985, the central government regulates and implements the export of these scheduled items.
APEDA Registration – What is It?
The APEDA Registration refers to registering your business with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority in order to comply with legal requirements and to take advantage of the different benefits.
It is mandatory to register with APEDA through APEDA Registration to export scheduled products. The export of scheduled products cannot be conducted without an APEDA registration. Within the first month of commencing business, the exporter must register with APEDA.
APEDA Act – Products Scheduled Under
APEDA is responsible for promoting and developing export activities for the following products, which fall within the Category of Scheduled Products as defined in the Act:
- Vegetables, fruits, and their products
- All bakery products, confectionaries and all varieties of biscuits
- Poultry and poultry products
- Dairy products
- Beverages containing Alcohol and non-alcohol
- Jaggery, honey, and Sugar Products
- Pickle, Papad, and Chutney
- Poultry and poultry products and various other products
Registration Process
- Register as an APEDA member on the official website of the organisation
- In order to verify your registration, you will receive an OTP to the email address and mobile number you provided when you registered
- The application process commenced with the completion of the application form. After the verification process has been completed, the applicant needs to attach all the necessary documents to the application to proceed
- You can pay the government fees by using any one of the payment methods, i.e. accepted and approved, such as credit cards, debit cards, and demand drafts in the name of APEDA
- Once the payment of fees has been successfully processed by the APEDA, the APEDA application number will be generated. The application number will be used for all correspondence regarding the application in the future
- After the application for APEDA Registration has been submitted, the final step in the process is approval by the APEDA officials of the RCMC. You can keep track of the RCMC application by clicking the ‘Track Application’ link on the RCMC website and entering the IE Code and the Application number until the RCMC has issued the certification. APEDA RCMC certificates can be obtained via the APEDA portal once the approval has been granted.
The APEDA authority issues the Registration Certificate Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC), and the applicant’s name is added to the APEDA member list.
Validity Period
The RCMC Registration Certificate issued by APEDA is valid for five years after the date of issue. As soon as exporters have completed five years of APEDA Registration, they need to apply for automatic renewal by paying the fee that is associated with it via recommended methods of payments such as debit card, credit card or through the issuance of demand draft in favour of APEDA.
Benefits
- In order to export scheduled products under the APEDA Act, exporters must register with the RCMC of APEDA
- APEDA Registration also gives the exporter the opportunity to obtain guidelines for improving the packaging and marketing of scheduled products
- An exporter who is registered under APEDA may be entitled to attend training sessions conducted by APEDA, which provide them with an understanding of various aspects of the industries related to scheduled products
- Throughout the year, APEDA organises various trade fairs, both virtually and offline. In addition to showcasing their products at these trade shows, businesses can build an image that will position them in the market in a positive way
- APEDA provides an exporters directory on its website in which exporters can be listed once the exporters get the APEDA registration.
Documents Required for Application Process
As a part of the application process, the following documents will be required. In order to apply for the RCMC, there is no requirement that any documents be submitted in hardcopy in order to complete the application.
- A DGFT IE Code that has been self-certified by the applicant
- An official certificate issued by the bank stating the name of the company, its ownership, the nature of its business, the bank’s banking information, as well as the bank’s experience in dealing with the company has to be duly signed and stamped by the branch manager
- The copy of the application form that is submitted along with the digital signature of the applicant
- During the process of filling out the application form, the authorities may require a copy of the bank statement and a scanned copy of the cancelled check in order to process the application
- If any exporter is interested in becoming a manufacturer-exporter, he or she must submit a self-attested certificate along with the application form.
Certification Agencies for APEDA Registration as per the Food Product
Food Product | Certification Agency |
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables | DIC / SIA / FSSAI / Horticulture Department |
Alcoholic Beverages | Department of Excise Commissioner / NOC issued by pollution control Board/ FSSAI |
Floriculture and Fruits & Vegetable Seeds | FSSAI / DIC / SIA / Horticulture Department |
Dairy/Poultry/Honey/Meat | NOC issued by Pollution Control Board/ FSSAI/MSME Registration (Udyam Registration certificate) |
Groundnut and Pulses | FSSAI / Certificate (Udyam Registration certificate issued by MSME) / NOC issued by Pollution Control Board |
Cereals and Cereal Products | FSSAI / NOC issued by Pollution Control Board / MSME (Udyam Registration certificate) |
Herbal & Medicinal Plants | Department of Horticulture / SIA / DIC / FSSAI certificate issued by any Govt. institution of Ayurveda |
Processed Fruits & Vegetables/ Processed Food Products/Dried/ Other Processed Fruits & Vegetables and Misc. Preparations/ Preserved Vegetables/Cereals preparations/Non-Alcoholic Beverages/Cocoa Products |
FSSAI License/ Certificate (Udyam Registration certificate, i.e. issued by MSME) / NOC issued by Pollution Control Board |
Conclusion
The primary objective and purpose of the APEDA under the APEDA act is to enhance and promote the exports of the scheduled products to meet the needs of the industry. Accordingly, this organisation is also responsible for ensuring the sound administration and smooth functioning of the APEDA Act 1985, regulating and managing exports of these scheduled products in accordance with the provisions of the Act, which are put into effect by the government on a national scale.
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