A Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) is a certificate issued by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) and/or one of the various Export Promotion Council (EPC) or Commodity Boards – primarily agencies and organizations that work towards the promotion and development of export businesses and are authorized to do so by the Government of India. It is a membership certificate issued for five years and signifies that the holder of the certificate is registered with FIEO/the concerned EPC or Commodity Board. Some of the popular EPCs include APEDA, SEPC, GJEPC, tea board, EEPC, and spices board. The applicant of the RCMC has to declare his or her primary line of business while applying for it, and possession of an RCMC entails an exporter to all the benefits and advantages of the respective parent organization.
As an exporter, you have to apply for an RCMC certificate if you are,
· Seeking authorization to export (or import) any restricted item
· Planning to claim various benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy
· Looking for benefits offered by the Customs and Central excise authorities
· FIEO (Federation of Indian Exporters Organizations Or a concerned Export Promotion Council is authorized to issue RCMC (Registration cum Membership Certificate).
· Different Export Promotion councils are responsible for the issuance of RCMC Certificate in relation to different product export/import. Central Government has authorized around 26 Export Promotion Councils and 9 Commodities Boards in India. These Institutions hold the authority to issue RCMC to a particular exporter.
· Each Export Promotion Council and Commodities board has been categorized according to the product they promote.
· However, if any export product is not covered by any Export promotion Council then RCMC Certificate may be obtained from FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organization) in respect of the product thereof.
· If the exporters of multi-product have their head office /registered office in north-eastern states, RCMC Certificate in respect of Export of forest produce and their value-added product shall be issued by Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council known as SHEFEXIL.( except for the product covered by APEDA, spice board, and tea board).
· Electronic and Computer Software EPC is responsible for issuing RCMC Certificate to Software Exporters.
· As per the listing of Handbook of Procedures, Exporters of 14 Services shall register themselves with services EPC.
· Exporters of services other than listed in the Handbook or Procedures are required to register with FIEO.
First and foremost, you have to submit the duly-filled and signed RCMC application form ANF 2C. Apart from the form, you have to furnish self-certified copies of the following documents,
· IEC Number issued against the applying export entity.
· PAN Card
· Articles and Memorandum of Association (For Corporate/institutional/Private Limited/ Limited company), Partnership Deed (in case of Partnership firms and LLPs), or Trust Deed (in case of Trusts).
· In the case of a company, the certificate issued by the Registrar of Companies regarding registered office change is needed.
· GST registration certificate.
In the case of a service exporter already in business, three years’ services export data certified by the exporter’s Chartered Accountant has to be provided. Proof of payment of membership fee to the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) also has to be provided.
In case the name of the signing authority does not appear in the IEC/MOA/Partnership Deed/Trust Deed, etc., a self-certified copy of the Board Resolution or Power of Attorney issued in favor of the signing authority has to be provided.
An application using the form ANF shall be filed with the concerned Export Promotional Council. Registration can be filed under two categories
· Merchant Exporter.
· Manufacturing Exporter.
If an exporter files application to get registered as a Manufacturer exporter then he requires furnishing pieces of evidence to that effect. Registration to become associate members of EPC can also be made by Prospective and potential exporters.
As per the Handbook of Procedures, an applicant is required to file an application in a specified format carrying the following documents along with.
· Application Form for Registration-cum-Membership, with the mention and specification of the product for which the registration is been sought.
· A self-attested copy of the Importer Exporter Code Number, obtained from the concerned licensing authority.
· A certificate issued by Bank certifying the applicant’s financial soundness.
· If registration is sought as a manufacturer exporter then SSI/IEM certificate is mandatory.
· A declaration in respect of the exports and imports effected during the preceding financial year.
· If the application is filed by is a company then submitting the Memorandum of Association and partnership deed in case of Partnership firms is mandatory.
The RCMC is issued for the term of 5 years. The validity of RCMC Certificate shall remain for 5 years, beginning from 1st April of the licensing year in which it was issued and ending on 31st March of the 5th year unless otherwise is specified.
Within a one month time from the date of the occurring of changes in personal particulars like name, constitution, ownership or address of an RCMC Certificate holder, it is obligatory on his/her part to intimate such changes to the concerned authority.
A genuine reason for the delay can be considered by the registering authority if an applicant submits necessary evidence well justifying the delay.
Every exporter shall furnish quarterly return/details of his exports of different commodities to concerned registering authority. In case exporter is registered with FIEO, then he shall also send quarterly returns to FIEO in the specified format.
In case of violation of conditions of registration, registering authority may de-register an RCMC Certificate holder. But before de-registration, the defaulter is served with a show-cause notice and is provided a reasonable and fair opportunity for hearing.
An aggrieved party has the right to appeal to DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) or other designated authority against the action of de-registration within a period of days from the decision of de-registration and the decision of the appellate authority shall be binding.