The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)

 The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, established in 1972. Headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, MPEDA serves as the nodal agency for the holistic development of the seafood industry in India, focusing on promoting and regulating the export of marine products.

Key Functions of MPEDA

• Registration: MPEDA registers exporters, fishing vessels, processing plants, storage premises, and other infrastructure facilities involved in the seafood export trade. This registration is mandatory for entities wishing to export fish and fishery products from India.

• Trade Promotion: The authority promotes Indian marine products in overseas markets by participating in international seafood fairs and organizing trade exhibitions.

• Infrastructure Development: MPEDA implements development measures vital to the industry, such as distributing insulated fish boxes, improving fish landing platforms, modernizing processing facilities, and upgrading equipment like plate freezers and ice-making machinery.

• Aquaculture Promotion: It promotes brackish water aquaculture for prawn production and supports deep-sea fishing projects through test fishing, joint ventures, and equipment upgrades.

• Quality Control and Training: MPEDA carries out inspections of marine products, sets standards and specifications, and provides training to ensure the quality of seafood exported from India.

• Research and Development: Through its research wing, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), MPEDA conducts R&D for the aquaculture of species with export potential.

• Exporter Categories

  MPEDA classifies exporters into four categories:

• Manufacturer Exporter: Owns an approved processing plant or fishing vessel with onboard processing facilities.

• Merchant Exporter: Utilizes the surplus capacity of an approved processing or handling facility without owning one.

• Route through Merchant Exporter: Includes Export Houses or Trading Houses possessing a certificate of approval issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

• Ornamental Fish Exporter: Exports only ornamental fish and not live marine products for human consumption.

• Registration Process

  Prospective exporters must apply for registration through MPEDA's online portal. The application should be submitted in triplicate along with a fee of ₹5,000 and the required documents.

• For more detailed information, you can visit the official MPEDA website: https://mpeda.gov.in