The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC) is an organization established by the Government of India in 1955, with support from the cashew industry. It is an authorized body that will regulate your cashew and its allied products if you wish to sell them in the international market. The primary objective is not just to regulate but to promote exports of cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid from India and create international demand for them. The Council provides an institutional framework to enhance and support these exports.

Upon registration as a registered exporter, the council will support you by providing technical guidance and opportunities of trade promotion and international marketing. It will connect you to foreign importers of cashew kernels by sharing importers' inquiries. Additionally, the council also helps resolve export and import complaints related to quality or contractual issues.

1. The Council provides the necessary liaison for bringing together foreign importers with member exporters of cashew kernels. The enquiries received from the foreign importers are circulated amongst its members.
2. The Council also extends its good offices in settling complaints in matters of exports and imports either on account of quality or variation in fulfilment of contractual obligations.
3. The Council undertakes publicity abroad to project the 'Product Image'  which highlights and focuses on the high quality and superiority of Indian cashews.
4. The Council participates in specialised International Food Fairs, Exhibitions, and general fairs abroad. As the Council represents the whole industry, it arranges a display of products received from members free of cost.
5. The enquiries received from the foreign buyers are circulated amongst the members for them to contact the parties abroad for business negotiations.

ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP

As an individual, firm, company, or corporation, you are eligible for membership in the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India if you have exported cashew kernels, cashew nut shell liquid, or cardanol in the past 12 months. The minimum export quantity required is 30 metric tons, which is roughly equivalent to the capacity of two standard shipping containers.

To calculate the minimum export i.e. 30 MT or equivalent for membership the following points need to be taken into consideration:

1. For Cashew nut Shell Liquid – The exported quantity of this item will be considered with a weightage factor of 5. i.e. the actual quantity exported shall be multiplied by 5 for eligibility assessment.
2. For Consumer Packs – The export quantity of this item will be given a weightage factor of 15. i.e. the actual quantity exported shall be multiplied by 15 for eligibility assessment.
3. It is worth noting that the total exports can be any combination of the above commodities (CK, CNSL, and/or CP) to reach the required 30 metric tons for council membership.

However, eligibility shall be denied if 

• There is any pending claim or complaint related to a foreign trade transaction approved by the Council, or 
• The individual, firm, company, or corporation has been lawfully blacklisted by any authority.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

If you are engaged in the manufacture, processing, trading, and conversion of cashew and allied products like Cashew kernels, CNSL, Cardanol, etc. and you hold a valid Importer Exporter code which is issued by the Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and if you are not qualified to be enrolled as Ordinary members of the council, you will be eligible to apply for Associate membership of the Cashew Export Promotion Council

SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP

To enhance the promotional efforts of the CEPCI, the Panel recommended including service providers in the Council. The recommended categories are Brokers, Quality Inspection Agencies, Shipping Lines, Custom House Agents, and Surveyors

Eligibility criteria are that they should have handled at least 30MT equivalent cashew products per year in single or in combination during the last three years. The relevant documentary proof to confirm the above may have to be produced before CEPC.

To calculate the minimum export i.e. 30 MT or equivalent for membership the following points need to be taken into consideration:

• For Cashew nut Shell Liquid – The exported quantity of this item will be considered with a weightage factor of 5. i.e. the actual quantity exported shall be multiplied by 5 for eligibility assessment.
• For Consumer Packs – The export quantity of this item will be given a weightage factor of 15. i.e. the actual quantity exported shall be multiplied by 15 for eligibility assessment.
• The total exports can be any combination of the above commodities (CK, CNSL, and/or CP) to reach the required 30 metric tons for Council membership.

Common Documents Required for both Ordinary, Associate & Supporting Membership:

1. Nature of the firm/company
2. copy of the Registration certificate or Constitution of the Firm
3. copy of IEC Certificate
4. copy of Business Pan Card
5. Details of Association with any other organisation
6. copy of GST Registration Certificate
7. Factory License /SSI Certificate (only if you are a Manufacturer Exporter)
8. Designation, Aadhar copy, Passport size photo of Authorised Representative.

Additional Documents Required for Ordinary Membership:

1. Proof of having requisite export of cashew kernels/cashew nut shell liquid viz. copies of bill of lading/invoice/ attested by a Chartered Accountant.
2. Item-wise quantity exported during the last Calendar year (Jan to Dec) in MTs and its FOB Value
3. If no exports during the previous year, then the quantity and FOB value of items exported during the current calendar year that you wish to Earmark/designate.
4. Certificate of Export Performance: For the quantities claimed as exports above should be certified by a Chartered Accountant.

Additional Documents Required for Supporting Membership

1. Item-wise quantity of exports handled during the last 3 financial years in MTs and its FOB Value
2. Export figures are required to be certified by a Chartered Accountant.

A Notice has been issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stating that application for a registration cum membership certificate (RCMC) or a registration certificate (RC) must be filed electronically through their common digital platform. 

The procedure for registration is as follows:

Create your account with your IEC code, and your login credentials shall be used to log in to the DGFT portal.

After logging in, go to the e-RCMC registration section in the portal, and fill out an application form with information such as your company name, address, IEC number, PAN number, date of incorporation, and nature of the business.

Select Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board and Fee Details.

Fill in the details of authorised representatives or contact persons for the councils and click on the “Add Details” button to save the details.

Under other information, select the countries to which you will be exporting and click on save & next

You will be required to provide supporting documents, such as a PAN card, IEC certificate, incorporation certificate, and so on (see Documents required). Attach all the documents required in the attachment section.

Once the application form is completed, review your application form, make sure not to make any mistakes to avoid rejection, and give a declaration for the submission of the form to the council.

After that click payment for RCMC, the applicant will be directed to the payment gateway for the payment, make the payment and then click on submit.

The committee shall review the application and may request additional documents or evidence if necessary

The decision on the application shall be made within 3 months from the date of submission.

On approval of the application, you will receive an RCMC certificate from the Cashew Export Promotion Council.

New Membership Fee

1. Access to schemes: CEPCI offers a variety of schemes to assist cashew exporters in areas like process modernization, quality improvement, and food safety certifications. These schemes can provide financial aid, technical expertise, or other resources to help members upgrade their operations and become more competitive in the global market.
2. Publicity and Promotion Abroad: The Council undertakes publicity abroad with a view to projecting the 'Product Image’ which serves to highlight and focus attention on the high quality and superiority of Indian cashews.
3. Participation in Exhibitions: The Council participates in specialised International Food Fairs/ Exhibitions and general fairs abroad. As the Council represents the whole industry, it arranges display of products received from members free of cost. The enquiries received are circulated amongst the members for them to contact the parties abroad for business negotiations.
4. Visa facilitation:  For members who need to travel abroad for business purposes, CEPCI's recommendations can expedite the visa application process.
5. Dispute settlement: CEPCI can mediate disputes arising from export-import transactions between members and foreign buyers. This can save you time and money in resolving commercial disagreements.

1. Market Access Initiative scheme, 2021: Reimbursement of expenditure incurred by exporters on statutory compliances

Types of Expenditure Eligible:

• Registration charges paid
• Regulatory requirements for the Services Sector.
• Any other specific component approved by the Empowered Committee.

Grant: Max grant limit INR 2 Cr per exporter per annum

2. Assistance to Members

Process Mechanization and Automation of cashew processing units. This includes upgrading machinery and implementing automated processes to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

3. Quality Upgradation and Food Safety Certifications

Eligibility

This scheme does not apply to new units. It is for mechanization & automation/ Quality upgradation of the existing units by replacing /upgrading some existing machinery and adding new ones.

For member exporters, the grant would be 33.33% of the total eligible investment subject to a maximum total grant of Rs. 100 lakhs per exporter for Process Mechanization & Automation of cashew processing units and Rs. 5 lakhs for Quality Upgradation.

For Associate members, the grant would be 33.33% of the total eligible investment, subject to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per exporter for process mechanization & Automation of cashew processing units and Rs. 2.5 lakhs for Quality Upgradation.

Grant will be provided only for the purchase of approved eligible finished items /equipment/activities. As such, bills for materials for fabrication/construction of various items will not be considered. For example, in respect of cutting tables the bills should be for cutting tables and not for material, labour charges, etc

The expenses incurred after the date of the Council’s approval letter or as specified in the Council’s approval letter will only qualify for grant-in-aid. Any payments/advances made before the approval date will not be considered.

All Payments should be made through crossed cheque / DD or Bank Transfer and copies of all bills, vouchers, certified bank statements, etc. should be duly certified by a practicing Chartered Accountant before submission of claim to the Council. Cash payments will not qualify for grant-in-aid.

Taxes, import duty, and other levies will be eligible while installation, transportation, handling charges, electrical wiring & fittings, Erection, travel, accommodation, food, stationery expenses, etc. will not form part of the eligible items for grant-in-aid against any of the components under the scheme

The beneficiary has to fulfill an export obligation to effect cashew/cashew product export of five times the grant amount provided to the beneficiary which will be achieved over a year from the date of completion of the project. For Associate Members, the obligation would be that they start exports and become members within one year.

The release of the grant will be subject to the production of a Bank Guarantee for an equivalent amount until the export obligation is fulfilled by the exporter. If the applicant fulfills the export obligation before the release of eligible grant-in-aid, a bank guarantee would not be required. If the export obligation of five times the grant is not achieved, the entire amount has to be refunded to the Council with interest at commercial lending rates of nationalized banks from the date of disbursement of the grant.

For Associate Members, a bank guarantee for 1.25 times the grant amount will have to be produced until the obligation to become an exporter within one year is fulfilled. If the obligation is not fulfilled, the entire grant has to be refunded with interest at commercial lending rates of nationalized banks from the date of disbursement of the grant

Eligible Items identified under the scheme are :

• Process Mechanization and Automation of Cashew Processing units:
• Electrical / Electronic Steam Cooking Vessels, Boiler, etc.
• Automatic Cutting Machines.
• Automatic Peeling Machines.
• Kernel Sizing Machine
• Colour Sorting Machine
• Raw nut Sizing Machine
• Cashew kernels roasting machinery
• Salting/coating / flavoring machinery
• Consumer pack packaging machines
• Automatic Labelling machines
• Barcoding machines
• Automatic Carton Strapping Machine and carton sealing machine
• Any other relevant item directly related to processing/quality control or packaging
• Quality upgradation and Food Safety Certifications
• Certification Consultancy charges
• Certification charges
• Certification Audit charges
• Safety equipment
• Any other relevant item directly related to Quality control / Food Safety Certifications.

Documents required for claiming Grant-in-aid

The claim application form shall be submitted to the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India along with the following supporting documents/details

1. Statement of expenditure in the claim form to be signed by the applicant as well as the Chartered Accountant on all pages.
2. Legible photocopies of Bills and Receipts certified by the Chartered Accountant. Bills should clearly show the value specifically for each eligible item.
3. Certificate of completion duly signed by the applicant.
4. Self-attested photocopies of ISO / HACCP/Food Safety /Organic certificate wherever applicable
5. Certificate by the applicant to the effect that no subsidy has been claimed or will be claimed for these expenditures from Government funds.

Beneficiary will be required to remit 2% of the approved grant amount to the Council before the release of the grant amount