Key Functions and Responsibilities of APEDA

Last Updated on April 15, 2026

The APEDA full form is Agricultural and Processes Food Products Export Development Authority. It was established by the government of India under the APEDA Act passed by the Parliament in December 1985.

The headquarters of the authority is located in New Delhi and to reach the exporters in different parts of the country, 15 regional offices are set up in Mumbai, Bangalore, Telangana, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai, Kochi, Tripura, Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh.

APEDA’s main mission is to encourage and enable exports of agricultural products from India. It works as an intermediary for farmers, collectives and industries to increase farmer’s income. Below check other functions and responsibilities of APEDA.

What is APEDA?

APEDA also functions as a Secretariat to the National Accreditation Board (NAB). It works for the implementation of accreditation of the Certification Bodies under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) for Organic Exports.

APEDA has been actively engaged in the development of markets besides the upgradation of infrastructure and quality to promote the export of agri-products. In its endeavour to promote agro exports, APEDA under its Plan Scheme titled `Agriculture Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA’ provides financial assistance to the registered exporters under sub-components of the scheme – Market Development, Infrastructure Development and Quality Development. 

Functions of APEDA

The functions of APEDA are as follows:

• Development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies.
• Participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and subsidy schemes.
• APEDA Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
• Fixing standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports.
• Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughterhouses.
• Processing plants, storage premises, conveyances or other places where such products are kept or handled for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products.
• Improving of packaging of the Scheduled products.
• Improving marketing of the Scheduled products outside India.
• Promotion of export-oriented production and development of the Scheduled products.
• Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products.
• Development of industries relating to the scheduled products and undertaking surveys, feasibility studies etc
• Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments and publication of such statistics.

Responsibilities of APEDA

The responsibilities of APEDA are as follows:

• The APEDA becomes a cornerstone for the success of the Government in promoting exports of agricultural products. As it shares in agricultural product exports, cereals and fresh horticulture items comprise 59 per cent, cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items 23 per cent and animal products 18 per cent. 
• APEDA has taken steps to streamline business and increase exports from India. This includes going paperless, using digital signatures, and electronic payments. Introducing an app and providing online services.
• The authority is focusing on promoting locally sourced Geographical Indication (GI) products, as well as indigenous and ethnic agricultural products, in response to the Prime Minister’s call for “vocal for local” and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
• APEDA has found new export markets for over 100 of its GI-tagged agricultural products, including cereals, fresh fruits, vegetables, and processed items.
• The government created agri-export strategy reports for 60 countries, tailored to their needs. APEDA's Market Intelligence Cell produces E-market intelligence reports with market analysis.
• Has created a farmer connect portal where FPOs, FPCs, and cooperatives can engage with exporters. The portal has 3,295 registered FPOs/FPCs and 3,315 exporters.
• Now uses Blockchain in GrapeNet to monitor fresh grape exports to the EU. The Trust Chain Blockchain tracks all consignment details, including vineyard location.
• Ensures product safety and global promotion for over 800 tariff lines, addressing concerns and educating exporters on necessary export requirements.
• Has developed quality standards, residue monitoring protocols, and traceability systems to meet the demands of importing countries for food safety and traceability.
• Has traceability systems for exporting grapes, peanuts, organic products, and meat. They're developing systems for more products.
• Organized virtual events like buyer-seller meetings, showcasing Indian agri experiences, and scheme convergence with ministries and organizations. Read here, Why APEDA is important for businesses. 

Conclusion

APEDA is a statutory authority which promotes and develops India’s exports of agricultural products. For that, it has two major motives, first is to create an environment that helps Indian exporters compete in the world markets. The second is to help Indian farmers achieve higher production by providing them necessary inputs and knowledge.

In India, if you want to export food items then you require an APEDA license. At Registrationwala, we assist businesses with APEDA online registration. If you have any questions about the APEDA Registration process, our legal experts at Registrationwala will help you with the complete legal procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is APEDA?

A. APEDA stands for Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. It promotes the export of agricultural products from India.

Q2. When was APEDA established?

A. APEDA was established in 1985 under an Act passed by the Government of India.

Q3. What is the main purpose of APEDA?

A. Its main goal is to increase exports of agricultural and food products and support farmers and exporters.

Q4. Where is APEDA headquartered?

A. APEDA’s head office is located in New Delhi.

Q5. Is APEDA registration mandatory?

A. Yes, if you want to export certain agricultural or food products from India, APEDA registration is required.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.