DGFT has exempted export consignments up to ₹3 lakh from the RCMC requirement to ease compliance for small exporters.
The Government has introduced a de minimis exemption from the requirement of a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Certificate of Registration for small-value export consignments up to ₹3 lakh. The measure is aimed at reducing the compliance burden for new and small exporters and facilitating exports through postal, courier and other emerging channels.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended Para 2.57 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, to provide that an RCMC or Certificate of Registration will not be required for export consignments with a Free-on-Board value of up to ₹3 lakh, wherever such certification would otherwise be required under the Foreign Trade Policy. Consignments exceeding ₹3 lakh will continue to require a valid RCMC or Certificate of Registration, wherever applicable.
Historical data for the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 shows that low-value exports account for a significant share of shipping bills but a very small proportion of overall export value. Consignments up to USD 3,000, for example, account for 43 per cent of shipping bills but only 0.86 per cent of India’s total merchandise export value. The exemption is therefore expected to cover a substantial number of small-value export transactions while having only a marginal impact on overall export value.
At present, exporters are generally required to obtain an RCMC or Certificate of Registration from the relevant Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board, wherever applicable, which involves identifying the appropriate registering body, submitting prescribed documents and completing registration before exporting. The new measure removes this requirement for eligible small-value consignments, giving MSMEs, artisans, small businesses and first-time exporters a simpler entry point into international markets and allowing them to test overseas markets and build an export track record with lower initial compliance requirements.
As exporters expand their operations and consignments move beyond the ₹3 lakh threshold, they can obtain membership of the relevant Export Promotion Councils or Commodity Boards and access export promotion, market access and other institutional support services. The exemption is also expected to facilitate e-commerce and other emerging export channels, supporting low-value exports through postal, courier and other channels increasingly used to reach international customers.
The existing framework for larger exports remains unchanged, with the RCMC or Certificate of Registration requirement continuing for consignments exceeding ₹3 lakh, wherever otherwise applicable. The measure is also expected to broaden the base of Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards by encouraging greater MSME participation in exports, as businesses that scale beyond the threshold obtain RCMC membership and access institutional support.
The Government said the measure reinforces its commitment to reducing compliance burdens, broadening participation in exports and making international trade more accessible to MSMEs, first-time exporters and emerging businesses.
Source: Press Information Bureau
