India exports agricultural and food products worth over $50 billion every year. Basmati rice goes to the Gulf, spices reach Europe, dairy lands in Southeast Asia. If you are planning to export agricultural products from India, there is one registration you cannot skip: APEDA registration.
APEDA stands for Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, is the government body every Indian food exporter must register with before shipping abroad.
Atlantic Courier is the certified APEDA exporter, we ship Indian food and agri products to 180+ countries. This guide covers, what is APEDA, registration process, documents required, and how to ship your products internationally once you are ready.
APEDA is a government body set up under the APEDA Act, 1985, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, headquartered in New Delhi.
Its job is to simply register food exporters, set quality and packaging standards, run financial assistance schemes, and connect Indian sellers with global buyers.
When you register with APEDA, you receive an RCMC (Registration-cum-Membership Certificate) your official proof of being a registered food exporter. Buyers abroad and Indian customs both ask for it.
Think of APEDA as the official starting point before your first shipment of basmati rice or mango pulp reaches London or Dubai.
APEDA covers what is called “APEDA Product Catalogue”. Here is the full list:
Important: Marine and seafood products fish, shrimp, prawns are NOT covered by APEDA. Those fall under MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority).
If your product is on this list, you need an APEDA registered courier service provider like Atlantic International Express before you can legally export it from India.
The registration certificate you get from APEDA is called an RCMC registration-cum-Membership Certificate. It is not optional. If you export any product without one, your shipment can be stopped at customs.
But APEDA registration is more than just a compliance checkbox. Here is what it actually gives you:
In short, it opens doors that stay shut without it.
The entire process is online. Since 2023, APEDA registration runs through the DGFT e-RCMC platform, not the old standalone APEDA portal. Here is how it works:
Step 1: Get your IEC (Import Export Code) Your IEC is the very first thing you need before any export activity. Apply at dgft.gov.in. Without an IEC, you cannot proceed further.
Step 2: Log in to the DGFT portal Go to dgft.gov.in and sign in with your IEC-linked credentials. This is your APEDA login entry point for the e-RCMC application.
Step 3: Select APEDA as your Export Promotion Council (EPC) Inside the e-RCMC section, you will see a list of Export Promotion Councils. Choose APEDA and select the product categories you intend to export.
Step 4: Upload your documents Upload all required documents (see the list below). Making sure everything is clear and correctly named incomplete uploads are the most common reason for delays.
Step 5: Pay the registration fee The APEDA registration fee is made online. This is a one-time payment.
Step 6: Receive your RCMC digitally Once your application is verified, your RCMC is issued digitally usually within 10 to 15 days for a complete, error-free application.
Your RCMC is valid for 5 years. Renewal only requires paying the renewal fee, no fresh documents, no re-application.
Keep scanned copies ready before you start the upload step goes much faster.
Most new exporters get confused between these four. Here is a simple table:
| Certifications | What It Covers | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| APEDA | Agricultural and processed food products | Exporting fruits, cereals, dairy, meat, beverages, etc. |
| MPEDA | Marine and seafood products | Exporting fish, shrimp, seafood |
| FSSAI | Food safety licensing domestic and export | Any food business operating in India |
| DGFT | IEC and overall export policy | Every exporter IEC is always step one |
For most food exporters, the combination you need is: IEC + FSSAI license + APEDA RCMC all three, before your first shipment goes out.
A tip from the Atlantic Courier: Many first-time exporters start by sending product samples to potential buyers abroad before committing to commercial shipments. Sample shipments still need proper documentation and compliant labelling. Getting this right from the start avoids costly holds at destination customs. We can help you ship samples correctly from day one.
You have your RCMC. Now what? Registration gets you in the game but actually shipping food and agri products internationally has its own checklist. Here is what matters:
1. Export-grade packaging
Domestic packaging is not enough for an international journey. Food and agri products need moisture-resistant, tamper-proof, internationally compliant packaging. Perishables need insulated or temperature-controlled packing depending on the destination and transit time.
2. Correct documentation
A standard food export shipment needs: a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, phytosanitary or health certificate (product-dependent), FSSAI and APEDA registration details, and the airway bill. Missing even one document can stop your shipment at customs.
3. Accurate HS codes and labelling
HS codes (Harmonized System codes) tell customs what is inside your box. Wrong codes or non-compliant labels are the single biggest reason food shipments get stuck or seized at destination. Double-check these before every shipment.
4. Destination-country rules
Every country has its own food import regulations. The USA follows FDA rules. The EU has its own food safety framework. Gulf countries follow GCC standards. Research the specific rules for your destination before you book a shipment, not after.
5. Choose a courier partner experienced in food exports
This is where Atlantic Courier comes in. We ship agricultural and food products from India to 180+ countries, with:
Whether you are sending your first product sample to a buyer in Dubai or shipping regular commercial orders to the US or UK, we handle the logistics so you can focus on growing your export business.
New exporters make the same errors again and again. Here are the five to avoid:
Atlantic Courier's export specialists review your documentation and packaging before every food shipment, so these mistakes never reach customs.
Partner with Atlantic Courier - a trusted shipping partner for APEDA certified exporters. We have been helping Indian food and agri businesses ship to 180+ countries since 2010.
From basmati rice to spices, dairy to processed foods, we handle everything. Door-to-door delivery, export-compliant packaging, customs clearance support, and end-to-end tracking on every shipment.
Whether you are sending your first product sample to a buyer in Dubai or shipping regular commercial orders to the US or UK, we make international shipping simple, fast, and reliable.
APEDA stands for Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. It is a government body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, established under the APEDA Act, 1985.
Yes. If you export any scheduled agricultural or processed food product from India, APEDA registration the RCMC is mandatory. Exporting without it is a compliance violation and can result in your shipment being held or rejected.
A complete and error-free application is typically processed in 10 to 15 days. Delays usually happen when documents are missing, unclear, or incorrectly uploaded.
Yes. Sole proprietors can export agricultural and food products from India. You will need an IEC in your business name, an FSSAI license, and an APEDA RCMC same as any other exporter.
Once you have your RCMC, partner with an international courier that has experience in food exports and customs clearance. Atlantic Courier ships agricultural and food products from India to 180+ countries with door-to-door delivery, packaging support, and customs guidance for both sample and commercial shipments.
You can export fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, honey, cereals including basmati rice, beverages, groundnuts, pickles, papads, floriculture, and herbal plants. Marine and seafood products are not covered under APEDA, those require MPEDA registration.
Yes. Even if you are sending a small product sample to a potential buyer abroad, the shipment must carry correct documentation including your APEDA RCMC details. Incomplete paperwork on sample shipments can cause customs delays at the destination.
No. An FSSAI license is mandatory before you apply for APEDA registration. It is one of the required documents in the APEDA RCMC application. Without a valid FSSAI license, your application will not be processed.
