The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has announced a significant easing of compliance requirements for small-value export consignments. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended Para 2.57 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 to provide a de minimis exemption from the requirement of Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Certificate of Registration for export consignments having a Free-on-Board (FOB) value of up to ₹3 lakh, wherever such certificate is otherwise required under the policy.
This measure is specifically designed to reduce compliance burden for new and small exporters, particularly facilitating exports through Postal, Courier and other emerging channels. Export consignments exceeding ₹3 lakh will continue to require a valid RCMC or Certificate of Registration wherever applicable.
Historical data from the last five years (2021-22 to 2025-26) provides the rationale for this exemption: consignments up to USD 3,000 account for 43% of shipping bills but only 0.86% of India's total merchandise export value. This indicates that the exemption will cover a substantial number of small-value export transactions while having only a marginal impact on the overall value of exports.
The policy change offers lower entry barriers for MSMEs, artisans, small businesses, and first-time exporters by removing the requirement to obtain an RCMC upfront for eligible small-value consignments. This enables emerging exporters to test overseas markets and establish an export track record with reduced initial compliance requirements. The exemption is particularly beneficial for e-commerce and other emerging export channels that are increasingly enabling businesses to reach international customers.
As exporters scale up their operations beyond the ₹3 lakh threshold, they can obtain membership of the relevant Export Promotion Councils or Commodity Boards to access export promotion, market access, and other institutional support services. The measure is expected to broaden the base of Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards by encouraging greater participation of MSMEs in exports, ultimately supporting the gradual integration of emerging exporters into global markets.