RCMC (Registration Cum Membership Certificate) is a mandatory certificate for Indian exporters who want to avail of export benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) — including duty drawback, MEIS/RODTEP incentives, advance authorisation, and export promotion capital goods (EPCG) scheme. RCMC is issued by Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and Commodity Boards.
What is RCMC?
RCMC serves two purposes simultaneously:
RCMC is mandatory to avail:
- ▸Registration: Registering as an exporter with the relevant Export Promotion Council
- ▸Membership: Obtaining membership benefits — training, buyer-seller meets, trade fairs, market development assistance
- ▸Advance Authorisation (duty-free raw material import)
- ▸EPCG licence (duty-free machinery import for export production)
- ▸RODTEP scheme benefits
- ▸Export data from DGFT portal
- ▸Participation in government-sponsored trade fairs
Which Export Promotion Council to Apply To?
| Sector | Export Promotion Council / Board |
|---|---|
| Engineering goods | EEPC India |
| Textiles & apparel | AEPC (Apparel), SRTEPC (Synthetic) |
| Gems & jewellery | GJEPC |
| Software/IT services | NASSCOM |
| Leather | CLE (Council for Leather Exports) |
| Pharmaceuticals | Pharmexcil |
| Chemicals | Chemexcil |
| Spices | Spices Board |
| Coffee, tea | Coffee/Tea Board |
| Marine products | MPEDA |
| Agricultural products | APEDA |
| Handicrafts | EPCH |
| Plastics | PLEXCONCIL |
| General merchandise | FIEO (for those with no specific EPC) |
Documents Required for RCMC
- ▸IEC (Import Export Code) — mandatory
- ▸PAN Card of business
- ▸GST registration certificate
- ▸Bank certificate (from your bank, confirming account details)
- ▸Certificate of incorporation / partnership deed (as applicable)
- ▸List of products to be exported (with HS codes)
- ▸Member fee — varies by EPC (₹2,000–₹20,000 per year)
- ▸Aadhaar/KYC of directors
How to Apply for RCMC Online
For FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations):
For sector-specific EPCs:
Process is similar — visit the respective EPC website, register online, upload documents, pay fee.
- ▸Visit fieo.org → Membership → Apply Online
- ▸Fill application form with business details
- ▸Upload documents
- ▸Pay membership fee online
- ▸RCMC issued within 7 working days
RCMC Validity and Renewal
- ▸RCMC is typically valid for 5 years (April 1 to March 31 of the 5th year)
- ▸Annual renewal or fee payment may be required with some EPCs
- ▸If your product range changes, you may need to update or apply to a different EPC
- ▸RCMC can be held from only one Export Promotion Council (primary RCMC)
- ▸Can hold additional RCMC from other EPCs for multiple product categories
Conclusion
RCMC is an essential document for any Indian exporter wanting to benefit from government export promotion schemes. Without RCMC, you cannot access advance authorisation, RODTEP credits, or duty-free import benefits. Biswa Corporate Solutions provides IEC registration, RCMC application, and complete export documentation services.