The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has relaxed rules around export registration to help smaller sellers enter international markets more easily. From now on, businesses shipping goods worth up to ₹3 lakh do not need a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Certificate of Registration. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) made this change by amending the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
What has changed
Previously, nearly all exporters had to obtain an RCMC or Certificate of Registration from their relevant Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board before they could legally export goods. This involved identifying the correct registering body, submitting documents and waiting for approval, which created delays and extra work for small operators.
Now, export shipments with a Free-on-Board (FOB) value of up to ₹3 lakh are exempted from this requirement. Any consignment exceeding ₹3 lakh still requires valid registration as before.
Government data shows that small shipments make up a large share of export transactions but contribute very little to total export value. In the past five years, consignments worth up to USD 3,000 represented 43 per cent of all shipping bills but only 0.86 per cent of India’s total merchandise exports. The exemption therefore covers many transactions while having minimal impact on overall export numbers.
What this means for you
If you are a first-time exporter, MSME, artisan or small business sending goods overseas worth up to ₹3 lakh, you can now ship directly without applying for RCMC first. This makes it simpler to test foreign markets and build an export record.
The change particularly helps e-commerce sellers and those using postal or courier services to reach international customers. As your business grows and you send consignments exceeding ₹3 lakh, you will need to obtain RCMC membership to access wider export promotion and institutional support services from Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards.