RCMC (Registration cum Membership Certificate)

The RCMC is an official document for exporters in India. The full name of RCMC is the Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate. The Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) or Commodity Boards issue it. You can register it from the official DGFT portal. This certificate gives foreign trade policy benefits. It includes duty drawbacks, RoDTEP incentives, and access to international trade fairs. In this blog, you will learn about RCMC.

What is RCMC?

The RCMC is an official document for exporters in India. It stands for Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate. The RCMC certificate certifies their registration. An exporter dealing with products registered with an agency or organization gets validation. The Indian government authorises its product. The authorized bodies issue this certificate. They can include:

a) Export Promotion Councils (EPCs)

b) Commodity board

c) Development authority

d) Other competent authority in India

The above-mentioned bodies act as registering authorities.

This certificate is issued for five financial years. So, an exporter must register this certificate for their business purpose. Each EPC and the commodities board depends on the type of products. The exporters can also get the benefits of India's Foreign Trade Policy (FTP). Thus, in other words, it serves as an "official membership card" for the community of export.

Who are the RCMC Registering Authorities?

Here are the different Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate registering authorities.

Export Promotion Councils (EPCs)

EPCs means the product-specific councils. The EPC stands as Export Promotion Council.

It includes:

a) Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC)

b) Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil)

c) Council for Leather Exports (CLE)

Commodity Boards

The commodity boards maintains the agricultural commodities. It can include Spice Board, Coffee Board, Rubber Board, etc.

Development Authorities

The development authorities are:

a) APEDA

It stands as Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. They handles agricultural and processed foods.

b) MPEDA

It is a Marine Products Export Development Authority. They are a government authority for marine products.

Who is eligible to get an RCMC Certificate?

Listed below are the entities that are eligible to get an RCMC Certificate:

a) Exporter or Merchandiser (Merchant)

An exporter or merchandiser have the right to apply for RCMC registration. They need to confirm their business deals with imports and exports. You can do this before applying. RCMC is required only when claiming export benefits or EPC-linked schemes. They must also apply for an IEC from the authorized authority. The DGFT manages the Import Export Code (IEC). The DGFT is the Director General of Foreign Trade.

b) Business Main Line Declaration

As an exporter or merchant, you need to mention your primary business line. This is conducted during the application process. For Example-

If your product does not have a special export board, you must state that in your application.

c) Consent from the Board of the FIEO

In the application, there must be necessary board permission or clearance from FIEO. The FIEO is the Federation of Indian Export Organizations. As an applicant, you must have an approval. It applies if there is unavailability of a specialized board for a particular product. The FIEO serves as a general council for exporters. In such a case, they are not covered by a specific body. So, FIEO is crucial for RCMC registration.

Documents Required for RCMC Certificate

Listed below are the key documents:

• A self-authorized copy of the Importer Exporter Code (IEC). It is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• A copy of the Memorandum of Association (MOA) for companies
• Membership Fee payment
• A copy of the Articles of Association (AOA) for companies.
• A copy of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) granted by the competent authority.
• A Bank certificate or a cancelled cheque.
• A Self -attested copy of the Partnership Deed of a company for a partnership firm
• A copy of the Trust Deed for Trusts, institutional, or corporate entities.
• A certificate from the Registrar of Companies for company’s registered office change.
• The last 3 years Services Export Data (Foreign Exchange Earnings). It is certified by the Chartered Accountant of the company.
• A copy of the GST Registration certificate
• In case of signing authority, a copy of the Board Resolution or Power of Attorney is must. This applies when the name of the signing authority is not mentioned in IEC and MOA. It also applies when the name is not there in Partnership Deed or Trust Deed. The document belongs to the company, firm, or Trust.

How to Register an RCMC Certificate?

Here is the step-by-step process to register an RCMC certificate:

Step 1: Visit the DGFT Portal

You have to visit the official DGFT portal. The full name of this portal is the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Step 2: Log In

Then, you need to use your Import Export Code credentials. This allows you to log in to the portal.

Step 3: Navigate to Services

In this step, click on the "RCMC Registration” option from the services tab.

Step 4: Select Authority

Select the correct authority as per your line of business. You can choose Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board. You can select authority from the dropdown list

Step 5: Fill the Application Form

You need to fill out the application form ANF – 2C. The form will be filled by entering the required details. The details can include:

a) Import Export Code

b) Permanent Account Number (PAN)

c) Business Profile

d) Product information

e) Other required details.

Step 6: Upload Documents

Next, you have to upload all the documents as scanned copies.

Step 7: Pay the Fee

Make an online payment of the registration fee. The fee will vary between councils.

Step 8: Submit and Verify

The respective authority will check your application after submission. They will also check your submitted documents.

Step 9: Download Certificate

Once approved, you will get an RCMC certificate. You can directly download it from the DGFT dashboard.

What is the validity of RCMC?

The certificate will be valid from 1st April of the licensing year when it is issued. It is valid for five financial years. The year ends on 31st March of the licensing year.

Conclusion

An RCMC is the essential document for Indian exporters. It is named as Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate. This certificate confirms a company's membership. It is for the specific Export Promotion Council (EPC) or commodity board. The certificate helps to access government benefits and international trade schemes. Thus, it simplifies export and import activities. If you need any assistance, contact Online Legal India.

FAQ

Q1. What is RCMC?

The RCMC stands as Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate. It is an official document for Indian exporters. This helps to certify their registrations with a specific:

1. Export Promotion Council (EPC)
2. Commodity Board
3. Development Authority, etc.

These are authorized by the government of India.

Q2. Is Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate is compulsory for all exporters?

No, it is not compulsory for all exporters.

Q3. Where Can I Register RCMC?

You can register RCMC from the official DGFT portal. 

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Online Legal India is a digital platform. If you require legal assistance, we strongly recommend consulting a qualified lawyer or law firm.