Marine Products Export Development Authority
Marine Products Export Development Authority
In 1972, the Government of India (GoI) introduced Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to diversify aquaculture, promote the marine product industry for exports, regulate exports of marine products, and ensure sustainability and quality in the production of seafood. MPEDA acts as a nodal agency to develop, expand and improve the quality of the seafood industry by collaborating with other governments and meeting the seafood requirement globally.
Overview
The marine industry in India plays a significant role in creating a massive demand for international trade, generating employment opportunities and valuable foreign exchange earnings. The export products are distributed by top countries such as Japan, the United States of America, the European Union, and South-West Asia.
MPEDA was set up under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act 1972 (No.13 of 1972) by GoI. Though the initial stages recorded slow growth, it expanded drastically in several phases after 1985, directly resulting in boosting economic growth, increased trade in seafood products, sociocultural and technological developments, and economic developments for a sustainable livelihood.
The increased export of seafood through international trade created a drastic change in Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) to regulate and implement as per the changes to the global trade environment, revised trade agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WHO), and Non-agricultural market access (NAMA).
The revised trade agreements led MPEDA to develop new bilateral and regional negotiations that formed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Fisheries Partnership Agreements (FPA), tariff measures, non-tariff measures, subsidies, and eco-labeling. MPEDA also provides financial assistance to all stakeholders in fishery sectors through the online portal to increase infrastructure and export production.
Missions of MPEDA
- Coordinate with all stakeholders across the globe to increase the value chain of seafood export.
- To implement regulations that would provide increased trade performance, subsidy measures, and improve eco-labels on trade.
Objectives of MPEDA
- Promote the marine products industry to increase export production in the international market as per FTP
- To promote all varieties of marine products for export
- Create a platform to notify the new measures and standards for fishing vessels, storage units, processing plants, and conveyances
- Increase the economic stability for all stakeholders and create a sustainable livelihood
- Provide certificates for exporters, farmers, and fishermen to help avail benefits, identify illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing
- Increase marketing and infrastructure to upgrade technology and develop marketing strategies
- Improve the quality of production by implementing training and research centers
- To implement schemes to provide support for industries and stakeholders
- To execute a code of conduct for responsible fishing to create employment opportunities, recreation, global trade, and increase economic standards
Key functions of MPEDA
- Promoting Indian marine products in international markets
- Collaborating with WTO for better trade relations
- Developing infrastructure and technology for preserving and modernizing the quality by implementing schemes
- Increase the productivity of fishing through deep-sea fishing projects, joint ventures, and the upgradation of machinery
- Inspects marine products and raw materials to implement regulations and specifications to maintain seafood quality for international markets.
- Provide training through research centers for aquaculture farmers to improve the quality of export production
- Provides services to protect and increase the reproductive rate of essential species in aquatic life
Services by MPEDA
MPEDA provides certification, training, and dispute settlement in the international market. Certificate from MPEDA is offered to the following members:
Exporters
Farmers and
Fisherman
MPEDA also provides an eSANCHITH certificate for international trade. Fee details of eSANCHITH certificates are as follows:
|
S. No. |
Certificate |
Fees (Rs.) |
|
1 |
Registration as an Exporter of marine products | 5000 |
|
2 |
RCMC | 5000 |
|
3 |
Catch Certificate for EU for frozen cargo | 2500 |
|
4 |
Catch Certificate for EU for Chilled/Dried/Live cargo | 750 |
|
5 |
Catch Certificate for non-EU for frozen cargo | 2500 |
|
6 |
Catch Certificate for non-EU for Chilled/Dried/Live cargo | 750 |
|
7 |
DS 2031 for export of shrimp to the USA | 2000 |
|
8 |
ICCAT Statistical Document for frozen cargo | 1000 |
|
9 |
ICCAT Statistical Document for Chilled or Dried or Live cargo | 450 |
|
10 |
Certificate of Legal Origin to Chile for frozen cargo | 1000 |
|
11 |
Certificate of Legal Origin to Chile for Chilled or Dried or Live cargo | 450 |
Category of Permitted Marine Products by MPEDA
|
S. No |
Marine Products |
|
1 |
Frozen Marine Products |
|
2 |
Canned Marine Products |
|
3 |
Freeze-Dried Marine Products |
|
4 |
Live Marine Products (other than Ornamental Fish) |
|
5 |
Dried Marine Products |
|
6 |
Chilled Marine Products |
|
7 |
Ornamental Fish |
|
8 |
Others (Edible)/(Non-Edible) |
Category of permitted Fishing vessels and Processing Entities by MPEDA
|
S. No. |
Title |
|
1 |
Processing Plants |
|
2 |
Storage Premises |
|
3 |
Conveyance |
|
4 |
Pre-Processing Centres |
|
5 |
Live Fish Handling Centre |
|
6 |
Chilled Fish Handling Centre |
|
7 |
Dried Fish Handling Centre |
|
8 |
Independent Cold Storages |
Application Forms for Registration by MPEDA
|
S. No |
Title | Form Number |
Rule Number |
|
1 |
Fishing Vessels | Form I | Rule 33 |
|
2 |
Processing Plants | Form II | Rule 33 |
|
3 |
Storage Premises | Form III | Rule 33 |
|
4 |
Conveyance of Transport | Form IV | Rule 33 |
Forms for Issuing Certificate of Registration by MPEDA
|
S. No |
Title | Form Number |
Rule Number |
|
1 |
Fishing Vessels | Form V | Rule 34(3) |
|
2 |
Processing Plants | Form VI | Rule 34(3) |
|
3 |
Storage Premises | Form VII | Rule 34(3) |
|
4 |
Conveyance of Transport | Form VIII | Rule 34(3) |
|
5 |
Marine Products | Form IX | Rule 34(3) |
Registration Process
The registration process for exporters, manufacturers, fishing vessels, merchant explorers, ornamental fish explorers, and processing entities of MPEDA functions under Section 9(2) (b) and (h) of the MPEDA Act 1972. All stakeholders engaged in exporting seafood should register with MPEDA.
Manual Process for Registration
Step 1: Check for required documents as per the requirement of MPEDA
Step 2: Complete the application form along with annexures 1, 2 and 3
Step 3: The application form and fee must be sent through MO/DO/PO to the Secretary or the officer authorized to accept the conditions.
Step 4: The applicant shall receive the letter of confirmation through mail or Implementing Agency
Online Process for Registration
Step 1: The applicant shall log into MPEDA online registration website, http://e-mpeda.nic.in/registration/Reg_login.aspx
Step 2: Select the New User option to register with MPDEA.
Step 3: Fill the boxes with valid credentials
Step 4: After saving the application, an automated email with a link will be sent to the email address for creating a new username and password
Step 5: After creating a username and password, sign in to the MPEDA website
Step 6: Provide all the necessary documents
Step 7: After the documents are validated, the Certificate will be sent to the email address
Validity of the Certificate
The Certificate provided by the D/O of MPEDA is valid for five years.
Renewal of Registration
The applicant shall follow the same process for re-registration two months before the expiry date.
Documents Required for Registration
- Proof of documents related to the registered company or firm
- Documents of directors, partners, and partnership agreement
- Projects undertaken
- Original registration certificate
- Total investment for the company and title deed
- Details of the applicant, such as Driver’s License, PAN card, Aadhar card
- Details of foreign trade agreements (if any)
- All certificates from corporation and emission offices
- EIA Code for the registered plant
- SSI Registration number
- Copy of the Certificate of the Importer Code (IEC) issued DGFT
- Detailed Project Report (DPR)
- Plant Layout
- Three years’ Balance Sheet authorized by CA
Fee Details of MPEDA
|
S. No. |
Title |
Fee Amount |
|
1 |
Registration Fee | 5000 |
|
2 |
Application fee to attached along with documents | 200 |
DGFT Registration cum Membership Certificate (RCMC)
Earlier, an exporter desiring to obtain an RCMC had to file an application in Form ANF 2C with the Tea Board and declare his mainstream business in the application. The procedure was outlined above for reference.
The Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a Trade Notice No.35/2021-2022 for Mandatory Electronic filing of Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Registration Certificate (RC) through DGFT Common Digital Platform with effect from 01.04.2022.
With this Trade Notice, DGFT informed that a new Common Digital Platform (DGFT e-RCMC module) for Issuance of RCMC had been developed, which would be single-point access for all exporters & importers. This Common Digital Platform is designed to provide an electronic, contactless single window for the RCMC/RC-related processes, including Applications for Fresh/ Amendment/ Renewal of RCMC/ RC.
The Common Digital Platform for Electronic filing of RCMC shall be available at https://dgft.gov.in.
