Export ยท Export License
Coffee Board Registration
Exporter registration for coffee and coffee products under the Coffee Board.
What is Coffee Board Registration?
Coffee Board Registration is required for businesses exporting coffee and coffee products from India, administered by the Coffee Board under the Ministry of Commerce to regulate export quality and support the sector's international market development.
The Coffee Board, constituted under the Coffee Act, 1942, exists to promote the development of the Indian coffee industry โ India is a significant global producer, with Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu forming its core growing regions โ through research, quality standards, market promotion, and support for growers and exporters navigating international coffee trade.
Coffee Board registration functions as the sector's exporter recognition, sitting alongside the base IEC requirement and typically alongside RCMC where the exporter also wants access to Foreign Trade Policy incentive schemes. It applies whether you're an estate exporting its own production directly, a curer/processor sourcing from multiple growers, or a trading company exporting green, roasted, or instant coffee.
Beyond the registration itself, the Board runs quality-grading infrastructure, market intelligence, and international promotion activity (including participation in global coffee trade events) that registered exporters can draw on โ useful particularly for smaller estates and first-time exporters navigating international buyer expectations for the first time.
Products/Activities Covered
Who Needs It
Key Benefits
Documents Required
- IEC certificate
- Business registration and coffee sourcing/processing details
- Bank certificate
- GST registration certificate
- Estate/curing unit ownership or sourcing agreement documentation, as applicable
Our Process
Applicant Category Check
We confirm whether you're registering as an estate, curer/processor, or trading exporter, since documentation varies slightly by category.
Documentation Compilation
We compile IEC, GST, and business/sourcing details against the Board's checklist.
Application Filing
The exporter registration application is filed with the Coffee Board.
Verification
Business and sourcing details are verified.
Registration Certificate
The Coffee Board exporter registration is issued.
Validity & Renewal
Coffee Board RCMC is currently issued for 3 years from the date of registration and must be renewed before expiry to continue exporting.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Renewal must be filed within one month of expiry by paying the renewal fee; missing that window causes the registration to be automatically cancelled, and any balance held in the exporter's ICO Certificate of Origin deposit is forfeited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do coffee estate owners need this too?
Yes, if an estate is exporting directly rather than solely through a registered trader, it needs its own Coffee Board exporter registration.
Is Coffee Board registration different from RCMC?
Yes โ Coffee Board registration is the sector-specific exporter recognition, while RCMC is a separate Foreign Trade Policy-linked certificate that may still be needed to claim broader export incentive schemes.
Does registration cover both green and processed coffee exports?
Yes โ registration generally covers the coffee product categories you declare at the time of application, whether that's raw green beans, roasted coffee, or instant/processed coffee products.
Can a small estate register directly, or does it need to go through a curing works?
A small estate can register directly for its own exports; going through a curing works is a business choice for processing and aggregation, not a registration requirement.
How often does the registration need renewal?
Coffee Board RCMC currently runs on a 3-year cycle, and renewal must be filed within one month of expiry by paying the renewal fee to avoid automatic cancellation.
What happens if I export coffee without valid registration?
Shipments can face customs or regulatory hold without valid Coffee Board registration, so we recommend confirming registration status before committing to an export order.
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