I want to export fresh vegetables and fruit. People say get APEDA registration first. After that what other approvals and steps are needed?
APEDA registration (the RCMC) is the basic registration to export scheduled products like fruits, vegetables, cereals and processed foods, and it is needed to access APEDA's market and scheme support. But it is only one piece. To actually export you also need an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT, a GST registration, and compliance with the destination country's standards, which often means registered pack houses, residue testing, and phytosanitary certificates from the plant quarantine authority. For specific markets you may need traceability registration, such as for grapes to the EU. Quality, cold chain and reliable packing matter as much as paperwork. Start by talking to APEDA and an experienced freight forwarder, and confirm the current requirements for your target country before shipping.
APEDA registration was just the start for us; the IEC from DGFT and GST were equally essential before we could actually ship. Do not stop at APEDA and assume you are ready to export. Line up all the registrations together.
IEC and a good freight forwarder were as important as APEDA for us. The destination country rules on residue limits and phytosanitary certificates caught out a lot of first time exporters. Do that homework first.
The destination country rules tripped up many first timers in our area, especially residue limits and phytosanitary certificates. We lost a consignment early on for failing a residue test. Confirm the buyer country requirements and get your testing sorted before you grow for export.
A registered pack house was a must for our grape export to the EU, along with traceability registration. We could not just pack in the field shed. Find out early whether your target market needs an approved pack house, because building or tying up with one takes time and money.
Do not underestimate the cold chain and packing side. The paperwork was only half the job; our first lot reached late and over ripe because we skimped on reefer transport, and the buyer cut the price hard. For perishable fruit and vegetables the logistics decide whether export actually pays.
Honest word on buy versus do it yourself for a small grower: exporting alone is heavy on cost and risk. We instead supplied an established exporter who already had the registrations and buyers, and earned a steady premium without the full burden. If your volume is small, selling to a reliable exporter can beat doing every step yourself at first.
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