Export Promotion Councils in India (2026): Full List, RCMC Registration, Fees and How to Choose

If you export from India, sooner or later a customs broker, a bank or a DGFT form will ask for your RCMC — the membership certificate issued by an export promotion council. Most new exporters then discover there isn't one council but dozens, each covering a different product group, with different fees. This guide explains what export promotion councils (EPCs) do, gives the full official list of councils, commodity boards and development authorities with the products each one covers, shows how to get an RCMC on DGFT's e-RCMC platform, what it costs, how long it lasts, and how to pick the right council for your business. Everything here was checked against the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, the July 2026 Handbook of Procedures and DGFT's Appendix 2T in October 2026. If you don't yet have an Importer Exporter Code, start with our IEC registration guide.

Quick answer

Export promotion councils are exporter bodies, recognised by the government, that promote exports of a product group and issue the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC). DGFT's Appendix 2T lists 39 registering authorities — export promotion councils, commodity boards and development authorities. You apply for RCMC online through e-RCMC on the DGFT portal, choosing the council for your main product (or FIEO if none fits). It is valid for 5 years; fees are set by each council.

• RCMC is required for authorisations and other Foreign Trade Policy benefits — but not for consignments up to ₹10,000 FOB

• Report changes in name, address, ownership or constitution within one month

• Fees vary by council and export turnover — e.g. CHEMEXCIL renewal starts at ₹6,500 plus GST

• Appeals against an EPC's RCMC decision go to DGFT within 45 days

What an export promotion council is — and what it does

The Foreign Trade Policy describes EPCs as organisations of exporters set up to promote and develop Indian exports, with each council responsible for a particular group of products, projects or services. They are non-profit bodies, usually registered as companies or societies, funded partly by members' subscriptions and partly by government grants for promotion activities. Most come under the Department of Commerce; textile councils such as AEPC, TEXPROCIL, HEPC and the wool, silk, jute and powerloom councils report to the Ministry of Textiles; and a few sector bodies sit under other ministries.

In practice, an EPC does five things for its members:

• Issues the RCMC. EPCs are recognised by DGFT as registering authorities. Without an RCMC you can't claim most Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
• Finds buyers. Councils organise India pavilions at international trade fairs, reverse buyer-seller meets in India, and trade delegations, often with part of the stall cost subsidised under the Department of Commerce's Market Access Initiative.
• Shares market intelligence. Members get circulars on tariff changes, foreign regulations, product standards, trade enquiries and export data for their products.
• Represents exporters to government. Councils take sector problems — refund delays, duty drawback and RoDTEP rates, foreign anti-dumping cases — to the Commerce Ministry, DGFT, CBIC and the RBI, and give inputs before trade agreements and budgets.
• Trains and certifies. Many run export-awareness workshops, and some issue certificates of origin or quality-related certificates for their products.

Export promotion councils are not the same as commodity boards or development authorities, but for RCMC purposes they work alike. Commodity boards — Coffee, Tea, Rubber, Spices, Tobacco and Coir — are statutory bodies that regulate and develop a crop or product from farm to export. Development authorities such as APEDA (processed food and agricultural products) and MPEDA (marine products) were created by Acts of Parliament with wider regulatory powers. All of them appear in Appendix 2T as registering authorities that issue membership certificates. The Foreign Trade Policy also treats a Coir Board registration certificate as an RCMC for coir products.

The full list of export promotion councils in India

DGFT keeps the official list in Appendix 2T of the Handbook of Procedures. The latest consolidated version on DGFT's site (as on 31 July 2023) has 39 entries. Since then, Public Notice 11/2025-26 of 12 June 2025 renamed the Sports Goods Export Promotion Council as the Sports Goods & Toys Export Promotion Council and updated its contact details. We found no notice adding or removing a council in 2026, but check DGFT's public notices before relying on any list, including this one.

Three changes trip up exporters who rely on older lists. Cashew kernels and cashew shell liquid now appear under APEDA in Appendix 2T, so check where your RCMC should come from before renewing. AYUSH products moved from CHEMEXCIL and PHARMEXCIL to the new AYUSHEXCIL in July 2023; RCMCs those councils had already issued for the moved items stay valid until they expire. And mobile phones and electronics have a dedicated council, MEDEPC, separate from ESC.

State export bodies are different. Searches for an "Uttar Pradesh" or "Rajasthan" export promotion council usually lead to state government bodies, such as a state export promotion bureau or the export cell of the state industries department. They run state export policies, freight and fair-participation subsidies, district export hubs and awareness programmes, and they are worth contacting for state incentives. But they are not in Appendix 2T and can't issue an RCMC; for that you still need the national council for your product. Many exporters register with both — the national EPC for the RCMC and buyer access, and the state body for state subsidies.

Popular councils at a glance

PHARMEXCIL (Hyderabad) is among the most-searched councils because pharmaceutical exporters need it for market registrations, regulatory updates and dossiers for export markets. Its scope covers bulk drugs, formulations, biotech products, diagnostics, surgicals, nutraceuticals, contract manufacturing and clinical research services.

AEPC (Gurugram) covers readymade garments, while fabrics and yarn go to TEXPROCIL, SRTEPC, PDEXCIL, ISEPC or HEPC depending on fibre and process. EEPC India (head office in Kolkata) covers engineering goods from castings to auto components. EPCH (New Delhi) runs the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair and covers clusters such as Moradabad brassware, Saharanpur woodwork, Jodhpur furniture and Jaipur textiles. GJEPC (Mumbai) runs the India International Jewellery Show. SEPC covers services, from IT-enabled services not under ESC to education, healthcare and tourism.

What is RCMC and when do you need it?

RCMC rules at a glance

39

Registering authorities in Appendix 2T

5 years

RCMC validity

Ends 31 March

₹10,000

FOB per consignment exempt from RCMC

45 days

Appeal window to DGFT

The Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) proves you are a registered member of the export promotion council or board for your products. Under paragraph 2.57 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, anyone applying for an authorisation to import or export (other than for restricted items) or for any other benefit or concession under the FTP must provide an RCMC granted by the competent authority, unless specifically exempted. That covers schemes such as Advance Authorisation and EPCG, status-holder certification and other FTP facilities.

There are three exceptions worth knowing:

• Small consignments. RCMC is not required for FTP benefits on export consignments with an FOB value up to ₹10,000.
• Coir. A Coir Board registration certificate counts as an RCMC for coir products.
• Restricted items. Authorisations for items restricted under the ITC(HS) policy follow their own rules.

You don't need an RCMC simply to ship goods abroad — the IEC is what customs requires. But an exporter without an RCMC gives up FTP benefits and the council's buyer and market support, so most regular exporters take one in their first year. For export incentives such as RoDTEP, see our RoDTEP guide for the current rates and validity, which runs to 31 December 2026.

IEC vs RCMC — what each one does

	IEC	RCMC
Issued by	DGFT	Export promotion council, commodity board or development authority
Needed for	Every import and export shipment	Authorisations and other Foreign Trade Policy benefits
Fee	₹500 (one-time)	Set by each council; usually annual subscription
Validity	Lifetime, with annual update between 1 April – 30 June	5 years, ending 31 March
Apply on	DGFT portal	DGFT portal → e-RCMC

Issued by

IEC

DGFT

RCMC

Export promotion council, commodity board or development authority

Needed for

IEC

Every import and export shipment

RCMC

Authorisations and other Foreign Trade Policy benefits

Fee

IEC

₹500 (one-time)

RCMC

Set by each council; usually annual subscription

Validity

IEC

Lifetime, with annual update between 1 April – 30 June

RCMC

5 years, ending 31 March

Apply on

IEC

DGFT portal

RCMC

DGFT portal → e-RCMC

How to choose the right export promotion council

The Handbook of Procedures sets the rule: you declare your main line of business in the application and must take the RCMC from the council that covers the product of that main line. Several situations need care:

Your product isn't covered by any council. Take the RCMC from FIEO, the apex body of export organisations.

You export many products and haven't settled your main line. You have the option of taking the RCMC from FIEO until your main line becomes clear, then switching to the sector council.

Your head office is in the North-East. Multi-product exporters registered in the North-Eastern states may take their RCMC from the Shellac & Forest Products EPC, except for products handled by APEDA, the Spices Board and the Tea Board.

You make handicrafts or handlooms in Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh. The Director of Handicrafts, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, is authorised to issue the RCMC.

You are an EOU or SEZ unit. EPCES covers all products and services of export-oriented units and SEZ units, except spices, for which units must register with the Spices Board.

Your products straddle two councils. A firm making both garments and home textiles, or both engineering goods and plastic parts, should choose the council covering the larger share of exports. You can also take membership of a second council for its services, but the RCMC that supports your FTP applications should match your main line. When in doubt, compare the product jurisdictions in Appendix 2T against your HS codes.

Beyond the rules, look at what each council actually offers your sector: how many fairs it attends in your target markets, the quality of its trade enquiries, whether it has a regional office near your cluster, and how responsive it is to member queries. Ask two or three exporters in your industry which council's services they use.

How to apply for RCMC on e-RCMC

1. 1

   Get your IEC and DGFT login

   Register on the DGFT portal and link your IEC. Update your IEC profile first — the e-RCMC form pulls details from it.

   DGFT portal
2. 2

   Open e-RCMC

   Log in and go to Services → e-RCMC → Apply for e-RCMC, then start a fresh application.

3. 3

   Choose the council and fee

   Select the export promotion council or commodity board for your main line of business. The fee shown depends on the council and your declared export turnover.

   Tip: Not covered by any council, or still multi-product? Choose FIEO.

4. 4

   Add products, contacts and markets

   Select your export products or services, authorised representatives and the countries you export to.

5. 5

   Upload documents and sign

   Attach the documents the council asks for, accept the declaration, then sign the application digitally.

6. 6

   Pay and track

   Pay the fee online through the payment gateway and track the application. The council issues the RCMC electronically.

Documents councils usually ask for

The exact list varies by council, but expect: IEC certificate, PAN of the firm, GST registration certificate, proof of business address, the constitution document (partnership deed, LLP agreement or certificate of incorporation), a cancelled cheque or bank certificate, and a CA-certified statement of export turnover for recent years. Manufacturer exporters add evidence of manufacturing — Udyam registration, factory licence or an industrial licence — because the Handbook requires proof if you want to be registered as a manufacturer exporter. Prospective exporters without shipments yet can register as associate members.

Merchant or manufacturer? Councils register members as manufacturer exporters, merchant exporters or service providers, and some charge different fees for each. Registration as a manufacturer exporter needs evidence of manufacturing. The category matters later, because some FTP facilities and council services are limited to manufacturers, so register in the category that matches how you actually operate.

RCMC fees: what councils charge

There is no single government fee for RCMC. Each council sets its own admission fee and annual subscription, usually linked to your FOB export turnover, plus 18% GST. The e-RCMC form calculates the fee once you choose the council and declare turnover. Two examples from councils' own published schedules:

CHEMEXCIL's schedule also shows a common pattern: the membership subscription is annual and expires on 31 March each year, even though the RCMC itself is valid for five years. Councils typically charge an administrative fee for amending an RCMC — CHEMEXCIL charges ₹1,180 including GST. Fees are not refundable if you cancel membership. Check your council's current schedule before paying; they revise them periodically.

Validity, changes, renewal and cancellation

Validity. An RCMC is deemed valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it is issued and remains valid for five years ending 31 March, unless the council specifies otherwise. A certificate issued in October 2026, for example, counts from 1 April 2026 and runs to 31 March 2031.

Changes. If your firm's ownership, constitution, name or address changes, you must inform the council within one month of the change; councils can condone delay on merits. Amendments are filed on the same e-RCMC platform, as is renewal at the end of the five years.

De-registration and appeal. A council can de-register a member for a specified period for violating registration conditions, but only after a show-cause notice and a fair chance to reply; it then informs all regional authorities. If you disagree with any council decision about your RCMC, you can appeal to DGFT or its designated officer within 45 days, and that decision is final. DGFT can also direct any council to register or de-register an exporter.

RCMC life cycle

Before first FTP claim

Apply on e-RCMC with IEC, choose council for main line of business

Every year

Pay council's annual subscription (most expire 31 March); update self-certified export turnover

Within one month of a change

Report change of name, address, ownership or constitution

31 March of year 5

RCMC validity ends — renew on e-RCMC

Common mistakes with EPCs and RCMC

Joining the wrong council. A garment maker taking RCMC from a fabric council, or an AYUSH exporter renewing with PHARMEXCIL after 2023, may find FTP applications questioned. Match your main line of business to Appendix 2T.

Letting the annual subscription lapse. The five-year RCMC doesn't help if the council treats you as a non-member for unpaid dues; many councils won't issue certificates or services until you pay.

Not reporting changes. Converting a proprietorship into a company, moving premises or changing the firm's name without telling the council within a month can lead to rejected applications.

Using an old list. Councils have been added and renamed; cashew now sits with APEDA, AYUSH with AYUSHEXCIL, electronics with MEDEPC. Always check the latest Appendix 2T and DGFT public notices.

Treating RCMC as optional and then missing benefits. If you plan to use Advance Authorisation, EPCG or other FTP facilities, apply for RCMC before your first claim.

Official links

• DGFT portal — e-RCMCServices → e-RCMC → Apply / Amend / Renew
• Appendix 2T — list of EPCs and boardsOfficial list with product jurisdictions
• Foreign Trade Policy 2023 — Chapter 2Paras 2.56–2.57 on EPCs and RCMC
• Handbook of Procedures — Chapter 2 (July 2026)Paras 2.77–2.85 on RCMC rules
• e-RCMC user guideScreen-by-screen help

What to do next

Get your IEC in place, match your main product's HS code to a council in the list above, and apply on e-RCMC before you file your first claim for a Foreign Trade Policy benefit. Then use the council: register for its next buyer-seller meet, read its market circulars, and check what your products earn under RoDTEP. For the full set-up — AD code, LUT, documents and a worked export order — read how to start an import export business.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

What is an export promotion council?

An export promotion council (EPC) is a non-profit body of exporters, set up with government support, that promotes exports of a particular group of products or services. EPCs organise trade fairs and buyer-seller meets, share market intelligence, take exporters' problems to government, and act as registering authorities that issue the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) needed for most Foreign Trade Policy benefits.

How many export promotion councils are there in India?

DGFT's Appendix 2T lists 39 registering authorities: 27 export promotion councils including FIEO and the EOU/SEZ council, six commodity boards, three development authorities (APEDA, MPEDA and the Coconut Development Board), and the newer councils for mobile and electronic devices, medical devices and AYUSH products. Some are under the Department of Commerce, others under the Ministry of Textiles or other ministries.

What is RCMC and is it mandatory?

RCMC is the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate issued by an export promotion council or commodity board. Under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, anyone applying for an authorisation or any other FTP benefit or concession must provide an RCMC, unless specifically exempted. It isn't needed for consignments with an FOB value up to ₹10,000, and you can export without one if you don't claim FTP benefits.

How do I apply for RCMC online?

Log in to the DGFT website with your IEC-linked account, go to Services, e-RCMC, Apply for e-RCMC, choose the council for your main product, select your products and export markets, upload documents, sign the application digitally and pay the council's fee online. The council reviews and issues the RCMC electronically on the same platform.

What is the validity of RCMC?

An RCMC is valid for 5 years: it is treated as valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it was issued and runs until 31 March five years later, unless the council specifies otherwise. Most councils still charge an annual membership subscription, so keep the membership paid to keep using council services.

Which export promotion council should I join?

Join the council that covers your main line of business — for example AEPC for readymade garments, EEPC India for engineering goods, PHARMEXCIL for medicines, EPCH for handicrafts or SEPC for services. If no council covers your product, or you export many products and haven't settled your main line, take the RCMC from FIEO.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 9 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Appendix 2T — List of Export Promotion Councils / Commodity Boards / Export Development Authorities (as on 31.07.2023) — Directorate General of Foreign Trade · accessed 9 October 2026
2. 2.Foreign Trade Policy 2023 — Chapter 2 (General Provisions) — Directorate General of Foreign Trade · accessed 9 October 2026
3. 3.Handbook of Procedures 2023 — Chapter 2 (July 2026 version) — Directorate General of Foreign Trade · accessed 9 October 2026
4. 4.e-RCMC Customer Portal User Help File v1.0 — Directorate General of Foreign Trade · accessed 9 October 2026
5. 5.CHEMEXCIL fee structure — Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics & Dyes Export Promotion Council · accessed 9 October 2026
6. 6.CAPEXIL RCMC fee structure — Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council · accessed 9 October 2026
7. 7.DGFT introduces AYUSH Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) to issue RCMC — TaxGuru · accessed 9 October 2026
8. 8.DGFT amends name and contact details of EPC for RCMC under FTP 2023 — India Shipping News · accessed 9 October 2026