Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) registration is an important requirement for seafood exporters in India. This registration not only allows businesses to legally export marine products but also ensures adherence to quality and safety standards set for international markets. Whether you are a new exporter or an established seafood business, understanding the MPEDA registration process is essential to expanding your global reach. In this guide, we provide a step-by-step overview of how to apply for MPEDA registration, the required documents and key compliance aspects that every seafood exporter should know.
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MPEDA Registration is mandatory for all marine product exporters in India. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body. The government formed it under the MPEDA Act of 1972. It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its main job is to promote and regulate marine product exports from India. MPEDA ensures that all exported seafood meets strict quality and hygiene standards always. This regulation is important for India's trade standing. Every person or company exporting marine items must register. This registration ensures full compliance with all foreign trade rules.
MPEDA regulates many marine products for export. Your registration certificate lists the product categories you can deal in. One registration allows you to handle multiple product types. This flexibility is good for business growth fast.
Product Category |
Core Items Covered |
Export Formats |
Fish and Frozen Seafood |
All fish types, like shrimp prawns, cuttlefish, crab and lobster |
Frozen blocks, individually quick-frozen (IQF) products |
Shellfish & Mollusks |
Clams, mussels, oysters and other marine mollusks |
Live form, chilled or processed and pre-packaged |
Value-Added Products |
Seafood that is processed more to gain market value. |
Canned marine products, freeze-dried items, seafood pastes. |
Dried & Chilled Products |
Seafood preserved by sun drying or quick chilling. |
Dried fish, chilled seafood sent to nearby markets quickly. |
Ornamental Fish |
Small, colorful fish for aquariums, not for eating. |
Live transport, needs very specific packaging rules. |
Not all marine product shipments need MPEDA registration. Certain small exports are exempted. These are typically small quantities not meant for commercial resale. The exemption is based on the consignment's maximum value. If the value goes over the limit, you must register.
Exemption Category |
Maximum Value Limit |
Purpose of the Export |
Non-Commercial Export |
Up to ₹25,000 |
Small, non-business shipments, not for sale easily. |
Export for Exhibition/Fair Abroad |
Up to ₹1,00,000 |
Items sent to a trade fair for product promotion. |
Personal Effects of Passengers |
Up to ₹5,000 |
Small amounts of seafood carried by travelers for personal use. |
Gift Parcels/Exporting Samples |
Up to ₹10,000 |
Small samples sent to foreign buyers for quality testing only. |
Getting MPEDA registration is a compliance step. It also offers big advantages for your export business. These benefits help in long-term growth and stability greatly
MPEDA gives out more than just exporter registration. It gives different certifications for every part of the supply chain. This ensures quality is checked at every single stage always.
Certification/License Type |
Entity That Needs It |
Core Purpose |
Exporter Registration |
Any company wanting to export marine products from India. |
Mandatory license to legally conduct export trade. |
Processing Plant Approval |
Facilities that process, package or treat marine products only |
Ensures the plant meets specific infrastructure, hygiene, and HACCP standards. |
Storage/Cold Storage Approval |
Units that store marine products under controlled cold temperatures. |
Certifies that storage conditions prevent spoilage well. |
Fishing Vessel Registration |
Boats used for deep-sea fishing where the catch is for export markets. |
Ensures the vessel follows proper hygiene and sustainable fishing rules. |
The MPEDA Catch Certificate is a very important document. It is needed for exporting certain fish products, mainly to the European Union (EU). This certificate is a traceability tool. It proves that the marine product was legally caught. It confirms the fish was harvested following international conservation rules always.
The Catch Certificate shows the fishing vessel's details, the catch area, the gear used and the date of the catch accurately. MPEDA issues this certificate. Its main job is to fight Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. If you do not have this certificate, the EU customs will stop the import. This certificate shows India’s commitment to sustainable fishing clearly.
MPEDA groups exporters based on what they do in the supply chain and if they own the facilities. This grouping helps MPEDA apply the right rules and offer specific financial aid.
Exporter Type |
Role in the Supply Chain |
Key Requirement |
Manufacturer Exporter. |
Owns or leases an approved processing plant and handles all stages. |
Must have a valid Processing Plant Approval certificate for their facility. |
Merchant Exporter |
Does not own a plant. They buy products from an approved processing unit. |
Must use the surplus capacity of another MPEDA-approved processing plant. |
Ornamental Fish Exporter |
Deals only in exporting live ornamental fish for the aquarium trade only. |
Needs specific knowledge of live aquatic animal shipping rules. |
Every entity involved in the commercial export of marine products from India must apply
The application needs many documents. These papers confirm your identity, capacity and quality commitment. Getting them all ready is the most time-consuming step
Document Type |
Requirement and Purpose |
Business Identity Proof |
Copy of the Import Export Code (IEC), PAN Card and Business Registration Certificate (e.g., Company Incorporation Certificate) |
Financial Solvency |
Bank Statement (last three months), showing enough funds to run the business well. |
Premises and Capacity |
Registration certificate for the storage site, and Processing Plant Approval or Capacity Utilization Agreement. |
Legal Undertaking |
An original document of a Joint Undertaking signed by the owner of the Processing Plant and the Handling Facility. |
Application and Fees |
Copy of the Purchase Order (if applicable), and proof of payment for the application fee. |
Personal Details |
Recent photograph of the applicant and proof of address |
The registration process is mostly done through the e-MPEDA online portal. This makes submission and tracking quick and easy
1: Determine Exporter Type and Form Access Check your exporter type. Pay the small fee (e.g., ₹200) to get the application form online
2: Prepare Documents Gather all documents. Scan them into digital copies ready for upload always. Get your IEC and Certificate of Source ready
3: Online Application Filing Go to the e-MPEDA portal. Create an ID. Fill out the application form carefully. Upload all documents and declarations.
4: Fee Payment Pay the main registration fee (Government Fee of ₹5,000) online immediately. Keep the reference number
5: Verification and Issuance MPEDA checks the papers. They may send an officer to Inspect your plant. After approval, MPEDA issues the certificate. You download the official certificate from the portal
6: EIA Approval (After Issuance) After getting the MPEDA certificate, you must get EIA Approval. You submit the MPEDA certificate copy and fee to the relevant authority
The total cost includes fees to the government and fees for professional help.
Fee Type. |
Amount (Approximate) |
Description |
Statutory Application Fee |
₹5,000. |
Official fee paid to MPEDA for processing. |
Application Form Fee |
₹200. |
Initial fee to access the application form. |
Professional Consultancy Fee |
Varies often around ₹3,000 |
Fee for expert help with filing and follow-up support. |
The certificate is valid for three years only from the issue date. Renewal is mandatory to keep exporting marine products legally.
You must apply for renewal with updated documents before the expiry date. If you renew late you face a penalty. If you do not renew the license is canceled. This forces you to stop shipping marine products immediately. Late renewal causes shipping delays and huge fines. Timely renewal is key for smooth business operations always.
You must follow compliance rules every day not just during application. This keeps quality high
Dealing with MPEDA rules can be complicated. Agile Regulatory is your expert consultant to simplify the whole process. We know the MPEDA Act 1972 rules well. We manage everything from start to finish
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