Functions and Importance of APEDA and MPEDA

India is one of the world’s largest exporters of agricultural and marine products. But exporting food across borders is not just about producing in bulk – it requires quality assurance, international compliance, market access, and financial support for exporters. Two statutory bodies under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry handle these responsibilities: APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) for agricultural and processed food products, and MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority) for seafood and marine products. Together, they form the institutional backbone of India’s food export ecosystem.

What is APEDA? 🔗

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the APEDA Act passed by Parliament in December 1985. The Act came into force on 13th February 1986, replacing the earlier Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC). APEDA is headquartered in New Delhi and operates under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Since its formation, APEDA has grown India’s agricultural export portfolio from a modest USD 0.6 billion in 1987-88 to over USD 51.9 billion in overall agricultural and allied exports during 2024-25. It has also helped India rise from being ranked 25th among global agricultural exporters in 1986 to the top 10 in recent years.

Key functions of APEDA 🔗

APEDA’s mandate extends across the entire agricultural export value chain – from production to packaging to overseas marketing. Its core functions, as defined under the APEDA Act, include the following activities.

Export promotion and production development 🔗

APEDA promotes export-oriented production of scheduled agricultural products. It supports the development of related industries by providing financial assistance through its Agriculture Export Promotion Scheme, which covers three sub-components: market development, infrastructure development, and quality development. Under this scheme, registered exporters receive financial assistance ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 5 crore for various export-related activities.

Registration of exporters 🔗

Any individual or business involved in exporting products listed under the APEDA Act’s schedules must register with APEDA. This registration, in the form of a Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), is mandatory for availing export benefits and support services. If an exporter fails to export products for twelve consecutive months, the registration may be cancelled.

Quality assurance and inspection 🔗

APEDA is responsible for fixing standards and specifications for scheduled products meant for export. It carries out inspections of slaughterhouses, processing plants, storage premises, and transport facilities – especially for meat and meat products – to ensure that quality benchmarks are met before products reach international markets.

Packaging and marketing improvement 🔗

Better packaging is critical for perishable agricultural products. APEDA works on improving packaging standards and marketing strategies for Indian food products in overseas markets. It also facilitates participation in international trade fairs such as BIOFACH (Germany), Gulfood (Dubai), SIAL (Canada), and Natural Products Expo West (USA) to connect Indian exporters with global buyers.

Data collection and advisory services 🔗

APEDA gathers statistics from production and export establishments and provides training and advisory services to exporters. It also runs the Agri Exchange portal, a first-of-its-kind online trade platform offering global agricultural market statistics and trading opportunities.

Organic export promotion 🔗

APEDA serves as the secretariat for the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which governs organic product certification for exports. It accredits certification bodies and promotes organically grown agricultural products in international markets – a role that has become increasingly important as global demand for organic food rises.

Products covered under APEDA 🔗

APEDA is responsible for export promotion of a wide range of scheduled products. These include fruits, vegetables and their products; meat and meat products; poultry and poultry products; dairy products; confectionery, biscuits and bakery products; honey, jaggery and sugar products; cocoa and chocolate products; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; cereals and cereal products; groundnuts, peanuts and walnuts; pickles, papads and chutneys; guar gum; floriculture and floriculture products; and herbal and medicinal plants. Basmati rice, one of India’s top agricultural exports, was later included in the second schedule of the APEDA Act. Cashew kernels and cashewnut shell liquid were also brought under APEDA’s jurisdiction in 2021.

What is MPEDA? 🔗

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body established in 1972 under the MPEDA Act, 1972, by the Government of India. It replaced the Marine Products Export Promotion Council, which had been set up in 1961. MPEDA is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, and operates 18 regional and sub-regional offices across India’s maritime states.

MPEDA’s primary mandate is to promote the development of the marine products industry with a special focus on exports. India’s seafood exports reached USD 8.09 billion in 2023, and the sector continues to be a major contributor to foreign exchange earnings. The country exported marine products to 132 countries in FY 2023-24.

Key functions of MPEDA 🔗

MPEDA’s role covers the entire seafood value chain – from fishing and aquaculture to processing, quality control, and international marketing.

Promoting marine product exports 🔗

MPEDA undertakes extensive market promotion activities, including organising participation in international seafood trade fairs, arranging trade delegations, conducting buyer-seller meets, and running branding and advertising campaigns for Indian seafood in global markets. It also operates Trade Promotion Offices in New Delhi, Tokyo (Japan), and New York (USA).

Registration and regulation 🔗

MPEDA registers exporters, fishing vessels, processing plants, storage premises, and handling centres involved in the marine products trade. This registration is a statutory requirement under the MPEDA Act. The authority also issues various trade certificates including catch certificates, certificates of origin, and the eSANCHIT certificate for international trade documentation.

Quality control and residue monitoring 🔗

One of MPEDA’s most critical functions is ensuring that Indian seafood meets international food safety standards. It operates the National Residue Control Plan (NRCP), which monitors aquaculture products for antibiotics, pesticides, and other banned substances. MPEDA has established four advanced laboratories at Kochi, Nellore, Bhimavaram, and Bhubaneswar for this purpose, along with eleven ELISA screening laboratories across maritime states.

Aquaculture and fisheries development 🔗

MPEDA actively promotes both capture fisheries and culture fisheries (aquaculture). It supports deep-sea fishing, encourages diversification of aquaculture species, and provides training to farmers on best management practices. Through its subsidiary society, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), MPEDA drives research and development in aquaculture technology and species diversification.

Infrastructure development and value addition 🔗

MPEDA implements schemes aimed at creating and upgrading seafood processing infrastructure, cold storage facilities, and transportation networks. It encourages the development of value-added marine products to help Indian exporters move up the global value chain rather than exporting raw commodities.

Training and capacity building 🔗

MPEDA runs training programmes for aquaculture farmers, fishermen, and processing plant workers through its societies – NETFISH (Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing) and NaCSA (National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture). These programmes focus on sustainable fishing practices, quality management, and compliance with international standards.

APEDA vs MPEDA: key differences 🔗

While both APEDA and MPEDA share the broader goal of boosting India’s food exports, they differ in scope, products, and operational focus. APEDA was established in 1986 and handles agricultural and processed food exports – covering items like cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and organic products. MPEDA, established in 1972, focuses exclusively on marine products such as shrimp, fish, crab, lobster, and other seafood. APEDA is headquartered in New Delhi, while MPEDA operates from Kochi. APEDA runs the NPOP for organic exports; MPEDA runs the NRCP for residue monitoring in seafood. Both bodies register exporters, provide financial assistance, conduct quality inspections, and organise international trade promotion events – but each within its own product domain.

How APEDA and MPEDA support exporters 🔗

Both organisations provide a structured support system for Indian exporters looking to access international markets. The support typically falls into three categories.

Financial assistance 🔗

APEDA’s Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) covers infrastructure development, quality upgrades, and market development activities for registered exporters. MPEDA similarly offers financial support to stakeholders across the seafood value chain – from aquaculture farmers to processing plant operators – through various government schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Market linkages 🔗

Both bodies organise buyer-seller meets, virtual trade fairs, and facilitate participation in major international exhibitions. APEDA has developed specialised portals like the Millets Portal and Indian Millet Exchange for niche markets. MPEDA operates trade offices abroad and runs targeted branding campaigns for Indian seafood.

Traceability and digital infrastructure 🔗

APEDA has developed several traceability platforms including Hortinet (for fresh fruits and vegetables), Meatnet (for meat products), Tracenet (for organic products), and Peanut.net – all aimed at ensuring product traceability from farm to export port. MPEDA has similarly digitised export certification processes and implemented online registration systems to reduce compliance burden on exporters.

Why APEDA and MPEDA matter for India’s food export future 🔗

India’s agricultural and marine exports face several challenges: inconsistent quality, limited cold chain infrastructure, stringent international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, and the dominance of raw product exports with limited value addition. According to APEDA, approximately 40% of India’s food undergoes spoilage, which directly affects farmers’ incomes and export volumes. The share of processed agricultural exports in India is around 17% of total agricultural exports – far lower than the US (25%) or China (50%).

This is precisely where APEDA and MPEDA play a transformative role. By setting and enforcing quality standards, investing in testing and certification infrastructure, connecting small exporters with global buyers, and promoting value-added products, these bodies help bridge the gap between Indian producers and international market expectations. APEDA’s push for GI-tagged and ethnic product exports – including dragon fruit, Shahi litchi, Bhalia wheat, and king chilli – is helping diversify India’s export basket. MPEDA’s emphasis on antibiotic-free aquaculture and sustainable fishing practices is strengthening India’s reputation as a reliable supplier of quality seafood.

As India targets higher agricultural and marine export volumes in the coming years, the regulatory and promotional infrastructure built by APEDA and MPEDA will remain essential. Their role in ensuring compliance with global food safety norms, facilitating trade documentation, and providing market intelligence makes them indispensable for any Indian exporter dealing in agricultural or marine products.

What do you think? How can India increase the share of processed and value-added food products in its agricultural exports? Do you think bodies like APEDA and MPEDA should expand their reach to smaller farmers and fishermen in remote regions to improve export inclusion?

References

1. https://www.commerce.gov.in/
2. https://apeda.gov.in/apeda-act
3. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2149703
4. https://apeda.gov.in/about-us
5. https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/
6. https://www.commerce.gov.in/about-us/autonomous-bodies/the-marine-products-export-development-authority-mpeda/
7. https://mpeda.gov.in/
8. https://www.indiafilings.com/learn/marine-products-export-development-authority/
9. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1898751