DGFT Waives RCMC for Exports up to ₹3 Lakh: A De Minimis Relief for MSMEs, Artisans and E-Commerce Sellers

Small-value exporters just got a paperwork break. Through Notification No. 36/2026-27 dated 15 September 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended paragraph 2.57 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to exempt export consignments with a Free-on-Board (FOB) value of up to ₹3,00,000 from the requirement to hold a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Certificate of Registration. The change takes effect immediately.

If you are a first-time exporter, an artisan shipping a few parcels a month, or an e-commerce seller sending low-value orders abroad by post or courier, you can now export those consignments without first obtaining an RCMC from an Export Promotion Council or commodity board — provided the consignment stays within the ₹3 lakh threshold.

What Happened

DGFT has inserted a new sub-paragraph into para 2.57 of the FTP, creating a de minimis exemption: any single export consignment valued at ₹3,00,000 FOB or less is relieved of the RCMC / Certificate of Registration requirement that would otherwise apply. Consignments valued above ₹3,00,000 FOB continue to require a valid RCMC wherever that requirement is otherwise applicable under the FTP.

The notification is issued under Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 of the FTP 2023, and applies with immediate effect.

Why the Change

The RCMC is a registration exporters obtain from the relevant Export Promotion Council (EPC) or commodity board to access FTP benefits and, in many cases, to export at all. For a large exporter this is routine; for a micro-seller shipping a ₹5,000 handicraft parcel, the cost, time and recurring renewal of an RCMC were disproportionate to the trade.

With India pushing hard on e-commerce exports, postal and courier channels, and MSME participation in global trade, DGFT has moved to remove this friction at the small end. The stated intent is to promote small-value exports through postal, courier and other emerging channels, and to lower the compliance burden for MSMEs, artisans, first-time exporters and e-commerce sellers.

Who Benefits

• Micro and small exporters testing overseas demand with low-value shipments.
• Artisans and craft sellers shipping directly to buyers abroad.
• E-commerce exporters using postal or courier routes for small orders.
• First-time exporters who want to make a shipment before committing to EPC membership.

Larger exporters and any consignment above ₹3 lakh FOB are unaffected and must continue to hold a valid RCMC where required.

What Exporters Should Do Now

• Check the FOB value per consignment. The ₹3 lakh ceiling applies to the individual consignment, not to your annual turnover. Split or aggregated shipments should be assessed on their actual consignment value.
• Confirm no other RCMC trigger applies. The exemption removes the RCMC requirement for low-value consignments, but scheme-specific benefits (for example RoDTEP or duty drawback claims) may still involve their own registrations — verify before assuming full relief.
• Do not skip other mandatory clearances. Product-specific approvals — FSSAI for food, PQIS phytosanitary certificates, quality-control obligations — are independent of the RCMC waiver and continue to apply.
• Keep your IEC current. An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) remains the foundational requirement; this notification does not touch it.

What Forwarders and CHAs Should Do Now

• Update client onboarding checklists so low-value exporters are not turned away for lack of an RCMC.
• Flag the ₹3 lakh threshold clearly to e-commerce and courier clients and confirm consignment-level valuation at booking.
• Watch for a corresponding update in system validations on courier and postal export channels.

The Bigger Picture

This sits alongside a broader set of 2026 reforms aimed at the small end of India's export base — including the removal of the value cap on courier exports and streamlined handling of returned parcels. Together they signal a policy direction: lower the barrier for MSMEs and e-commerce sellers to reach global buyers, while keeping full compliance obligations on larger, higher-value trade. For a country trying to widen its exporter base beyond a few thousand large firms, cutting the RCMC step for genuinely small consignments is a practical, if incremental, move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this mean I never need an RCMC again? No. The waiver applies only to consignments up to ₹3,00,000 FOB. Above that value, a valid RCMC is still required wherever the FTP otherwise mandates it.

Do I still need an IEC? Yes. The Importer-Exporter Code requirement is unchanged. This notification only affects the RCMC / Certificate of Registration.

Is the ₹3 lakh limit per shipment or per year? It is framed per export consignment. Assess each consignment's FOB value against the ceiling.

Does the waiver cover scheme benefits like RoDTEP? The notification exempts the RCMC requirement itself. Scheme claims may carry their own conditions, so confirm eligibility separately before relying on any incentive.

Conclusion

For India's smallest exporters, Notification No. 36/2026-27 removes a real and recurring hurdle. If your consignments are ₹3 lakh FOB or under, you can now ship without an RCMC — but keep your IEC valid and continue to meet all product-specific and scheme-specific requirements.

This is a plain-language summary for general guidance. Exporters should read the full text of DGFT Notification No. 36/2026-27 on the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) and consult a qualified advisor before acting.