Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) Registration

RCMC and membership for exporters of cashew kernels, cashew nut shell liquid and consumer packs

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Video Explanation & Insights

Overview

The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) was established in 1955 by the Government of India to promote the export of cashew kernels and cashew products. India is one of the largest processors and exporters of cashew kernels, supplying markets from the Gulf and Europe to the United States, Japan and Australia, and the Council issues the RCMC that cashew exporters need for export incentives and its own assistance schemes.

Cashew kernels are traded by grade — W180, W210, W240, W320 and W450 being the principal white whole grades, with W180 the premium 'king' size — and the Council's statistics, quality standards and market information are built around these grades. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) and retail consumer packs are separate export categories with their own membership thresholds.

CEPCI has two classes of membership. Ordinary membership is for established exporters who meet a minimum annual export quantity — about 30 metric tonnes of kernels, with scaled thresholds for CNSL and consumer packs — and it carries an entrance fee of ₹20,000 and an annual fee of ₹8,000 plus GST, as explained in the video, along with a per-tonne contribution on exports. Associate membership is for new and smaller exporters with no export criterion, at an entrance fee of ₹3,000 and an annual fee of ₹6,000. The membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Members can draw on the Council's assistance for processing and quality upgradation — the video describes a grant of about a third of eligible investment, with ceilings that differ between ordinary and associate members — and on Market Development Assistance for fairs, market intelligence, circulars and notifications, export documentation guidance and payment-security advice.

Objectives

  • Market Development Assistance for international fairs and buyer-seller meets
  • Assistance for processing, technology and quality upgradation for members
  • Grade standards, statistics and market intelligence for cashew exports
  • Notifications, circulars and guidance on destination-market requirements
  • Export documentation and payment-security support

Eligibility Criteria

Ordinary Members

  • Exporters meeting the minimum annual export quantity of cashew kernels (about 30 MT)
  • CNSL and consumer-pack exporters at the scaled thresholds
  • Entrance fee ₹20,000 and annual fee ₹8,000 plus GST (as in the video)

Associate Members

  • New exporters and units not yet meeting the export criterion
  • No minimum export quantity
  • Entrance fee ₹3,000 and annual fee ₹6,000 (as in the video)

Documents Required

1

Nature of business and firm registration proof (partnership deed, LLP agreement or certificate of incorporation)

2

PAN and Aadhaar of the proprietor / partners / directors

3

Importer Exporter Code (IEC)

4

GST registration

5

CA-certified statement of cashew exports for the last three years

6

Bank certificate or cancelled cheque

7

Factory / processing unit details and FSSAI licence, where applicable

Step-by-Step Process

1

Decide the membership class

Ordinary membership if you meet the minimum export quantity; associate membership for new or small exporters

Estimated Time: 1 day
2

Certify export figures

Have a Chartered Accountant certify your cashew exports for the last three years — this fixes the class

Estimated Time: 2–3 days
3

Apply and pay

Application on the DGFT e-RCMC platform / Council with documents; entrance and annual fees paid

Estimated Time: 1–2 days
4

RCMC issued

Verification by the Council and issue of the RCMC for the membership year

Estimated Time: 7–15 days

Frequently Asked Questions