DGFT Exempts Low-Value Exports up to ₹3 Lakh from RCMC: Relief for MSMEs, Couriers and First-Time Exporters

India has removed a recurring friction point for small exporters. Through Notification No. 36/2026-27, dated 15 September 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended Paragraph 2.57 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 so that a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Certificate of Registration is no longer required where the Free-on-Board (FOB) value of an export consignment does not exceed ₹3,00,000. The change takes effect immediately and is aimed squarely at MSMEs, first-time exporters and the growing volume of small parcels moving through courier, postal and e-commerce channels.

What Happened

The notification inserts a new sub-paragraph (c) into Para 2.57 of FTP 2023 stating that the requirement of an RCMC or a Certificate of Registration "shall not apply to an export consignment where the Free-on-Board (FOB) value of the consignment does not exceed ₹3,00,000." In plain terms: if the FOB value of a single export consignment is ₹3 lakh or below, the exporter does not need to first obtain an RCMC from an Export Promotion Council (EPC) or commodity board to ship it.

Consignments above ₹3,00,000 FOB continue to require a valid RCMC or Certificate of Registration wherever FTP 2023 otherwise mandates one. The exemption is tied to consignment value, not to the exporter's annual turnover.

Why / Background

An RCMC is the membership certificate issued by an EPC, commodity board or authority such as FIEO, and it is a precondition for claiming many export benefits and, in several cases, for the shipping process itself. Obtaining it involves council membership, fees and paperwork — a disproportionate burden for a trader shipping a handful of low-value parcels, a craftsperson selling abroad through a marketplace, or a first-timer testing an overseas market. By carving out low-value consignments, DGFT lowers the entry barrier for small and new exporters and reduces the compliance load on India's fast-growing cross-border e-commerce and courier flows.

Who Benefits

The exemption helps MSME and cottage-sector exporters, artisans and small manufacturers, cross-border e-commerce sellers, and first-time exporters validating demand before scaling. Courier and postal operators and e-commerce export aggregators also benefit from fewer documentation blockers at the consignment level. Larger exporters are unaffected for their main shipments but may use the relief for genuinely small sample or trial consignments.

What Exporters Should Do Now

• Apply the exemption per consignment, by FOB value — the ₹3,00,000 threshold is tested at the consignment level, so classify and value each shipment correctly.
• Do not split consignments artificially to stay under the threshold; valuation and anti-abuse scrutiny still apply.
• Remember RCMC may still be needed for benefits — if you intend to claim scheme benefits that are conditioned on RCMC, confirm whether the exemption affects your eligibility before relying on it.
• Keep your IEC and KYC current — the RCMC waiver does not remove the need for a valid Importer-Exporter Code or for correct shipping-bill filing.
• First-time exporters: use this window to ship trial orders, but build RCMC into your plan once consignment values cross the threshold or you need council-linked incentives.

What Forwarders and CHAs Should Do Now

• Update intake checklists so low-value consignments are not held for an RCMC that is no longer required.
• Flag the threshold clearly to small-exporter clients and advise on when RCMC becomes necessary again.

The Bigger Picture

The move fits a wider DGFT push to simplify and digitise trade compliance — alongside automated Free Sale and Commerce Certificate issuance and streamlined Certificate of Origin processes — with a particular focus on bringing more MSMEs and e-commerce sellers into formal export flows. Reducing per-consignment paperwork for small shipments is exactly the kind of friction removal that widens the exporter base rather than just helping incumbents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ₹3 lakh limit based on my yearly exports or per shipment? Per consignment. The exemption applies where a single consignment's FOB value does not exceed ₹3,00,000.

Do I still need an IEC? Yes. The RCMC exemption does not affect the Importer-Exporter Code requirement — you still need a valid IEC to export.

I want to claim RoDTEP/other benefits — does this exemption affect that? RCMC is linked to several benefit claims. If your incentive eligibility depends on RCMC, verify the position before relying solely on the exemption for benefit purposes.

What if my consignment is just above ₹3 lakh? Then the normal RCMC/Certificate of Registration requirement applies. Do not artificially split a shipment to fall under the limit.

Conclusion

Notification No. 36/2026-27 is a targeted ease-of-doing-business measure: it strips the RCMC requirement from export consignments of ₹3 lakh FOB or less, cutting red tape for the smallest and newest exporters and for cross-border e-commerce. Use it to lower your entry cost — but keep your IEC, valuation discipline and benefit-eligibility checks firmly in place.

This summary is for general guidance only. Verify the exact wording, threshold and conditions against the official DGFT Notification No. 36/2026-27 and FTP 2023 Para 2.57 on the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) before acting.