Spice Board Registration in India

What is Spices Board Registration?

A Spice Board Registration is a mandatory authorization given by the Spice Board of India to businesses that want to export spices from India. This registration acts as a license that enables legal export of spices and ensures compliance with quality standards prescribed by the government.

Spice Board registration is officially known as Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES).

Why do you need Spice Board Registration in India?

India has long been renowned as the land of spices. The aroma of our spices drew people to India even before our spirituality began to draw attention from around the globe. However, as times have changed and India has emerged as a major player in the global spice market, many people now find incredible financial success in the exporting of spices

To regulate and promote ethical practices in spice exports while preventing fraudulent activities, the Spices Board of India mandates businesses to obtain Spice Board Registration. This registration ensures that only genuine and quality-compliant exporters participate in the trade of spices. This helps to uphold India's reputation in the international spice market.

Lists of Spices Requiring Spice Board Registration

According to the Spices Board Act, a total of 52 spices require registration under the Spices Board. Some of these spices are as follows:

• Cardamom (small and large)

• Pepper 

• Chilli

• Cumin

• Turmeric

• Ginger

• Tamarind

• Star Anise

• Saffron

• Rosemary

• Poppy seed

• Pepper 

• Clove

• Parsley

• Oregano

• Nutmeg

• Mustard

• Marjoram

• Horseradish

• Fenugreek

• Fennel

• Curry Leaf

• Bay Leaf

Need Assistance with CRES Certificate?

To acquire Spice Board of India Registration or CRES, one must undergo the necessary procedure. To undertake this procedure, we recommend you to take assistance from experts who are well-versed in it. 

Registrationwala has a team of business consultants, CAs, and lawyers who specialize in every aspect of the Spice Board registration process, from filing the Spice Board application to securing certificate renewal.

Eligibility Criteria for Spice Board Registration

The Eligibility Criteria to obtain Spice Board Registration in India is as follows:

• The applicant entity (export business) ID proofs should be legitimate.a

• The applicant entity must be an India-based business entity.

• There should be no criminal record against any partners/directors of the applicant business entity.

• The applicant entity must be registered as a company under the Companies Act 2013 or a partnership firm under the Indian Partnership Act 1932.

• They must have a valid Import Export Code certificate.

  • The exporter must have a permanent business address and storage unit for spices.

• They must have a minimum turnover of Rs. 2.5 lakh in the previous financial year.

• They must also have a FSSAI license since spice is a food product and FSSAI license is required for export of all food products. 

• The applicant must comply with the food safety and quality standards prescribed by FSSAI and Spices Board of India.

Documents Required for Spice Board Registration

Spices Board registration documents: For the exporter registration for spices, the following are the required documents:

 

Documents required by the Merchant Category Exporter

The following documents are required for spice board registration for Merchant Category Exporter:

• Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the DGFT.

• PAN Card of the Exporter.

• Copy of GST Certificate.

• Confidential bank Report showing the Net Worth of the Company.

• Certificate of Incorporation/Partnership Deed.

• Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association.

• List of Directors and Partners along with their contact information.

• Copy of Central FSSAI License.

• If the company authorizes the applicant to file the application, then an authorization letter authorizing the applicant is also required.

Documents required by the Manufacturer Category Exporter

The following documents are required for spices board registration for Manufacturer Category Exporter:

• Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the DGFT.

• Exporter’s PAN Card.

• Copy of GST Certificate.

• Confidential bank Report showing the Net Worth of the Company.

• If the business authorizes the applicant to file the application, then an authorization letter authorizing him/her is also needed.

• Certificate of Incorporation/Partnership Deed.

• Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association.

• List of Directors/partners and their contact information.

• MSME registration.

• Copy of FSSAI Central license.

• Pollution Control Board Certificate.

• Lease deed/rent agreement if the manufacturing premise is on lease/rent.

It is important to note that the spices board registration fees would be different for both categories.   

Process of Obtaining the Spice Board Registration in India

If you want to learn how to apply spice board certificate, this section will explain the required steps. Before knowing the procedure, you must know that two types of applicants have to file for Spice Board Online Registration: (i) Merchant category of Exporter and (ii) Manufacturer category of Exporter.

A detailed description of the Spice Board registration form is provided below, as the entire process fundamentally depends on its application. The spice board registration procedure remains the same for both types of applicants.

Online Procedure

The entire process of Spice Board registration can be completed online. Therefore, you do not need to submit a physical copy of the application.

Online Application Filing

Any prospective exporter can file the online application via the official website of the Spice Board of India. 

Provide the Necessary Details

When starting to file the application, the applicant must provide certain details, such as Import-Export Code, a Valid Email ID and Mobile Number.

OTP from the Spice Board Portal

You’ll acquire a one time password (OTP) that you will use to proceed with filing the Spice Board of India certificate application. Care must be taken when providing all the necessary details in the application form, especially when it comes to providing the Import Export code. For the grant of CRES, the Import and Export code is essential.

Upload the Relevant Documents

Once the application form has been filled out, you will be directed to the documents page. On this page, you must upload the necessary documents required for Spice Board Registration.

Pay the Registration Fee

After the application has been drafted and reviewed, the applicant can pay the spice board certificate fees via online mode and submit the application.

Application Assessment

The Spices Board will thoroughly assess the application. Meanwhile, applicants are strongly recommended to monitor their application status regularly. Staying updated will help them address any discrepancies that arise in a timely manner.

Rectify Issues Discovered in the Application

While checking the Spice Board registration status, the applicant exporter may discover there are some issues with the application. If there are any such issues, the applicant exporter must address them promptly.

Premise Inspection during the Assessment Period

The Spice Board of India will send an official to inspect the applicant's premises during the evaluation of the application.

Issuance of CRES Registration Certificate

If there are no discrepancies in the application, the Spice Board Certificate for export is typically issued to the exporter within 10 working days after application submission. However, if there are any issues, the certificate will be granted 10 days after the applicant resolves them successfully.

Spice Board License Renewal

Once the exporter gets the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES), they will retain it until the spice board registration validity ends. The spice board certificate validity remains for 3 years. The exporter needs to renew their spice board certificate every three years to maintain its validity. 

Penalties for Not Securing Spice Board Registration

If a business engages in export of spices without a valid Spice Board Registration, the same is considered a punishable offense under Section 11 of the Spices Board Act 1986. 

A business may face the following penalties if it fails to secure the mandatory registration:

• Confiscation of Spice Stock: The government authorities may seize the entire stock of spices for exportation. 

• Fine/Imprisonment: The offender who exports spices from India without Spice Board Registration can be penalized with a fine of up to Rs 1,000. They may also face imprisonment for up to one year. 

Businesses must obtain Spice Board Registration prior to exporting spices from India in order to avoid these consequences.

Our Assistance in getting the Spice Board Registration

The process of Spice Board Certificate Registration may seem quite lengthy, and exporters might find it challenging to complete all the formalities on their own. However, Registrationwala can assist you in fulfilling all the formalities associated with Spice Board Registration, including securing an Import Export Code, which is a mandatory requirement for all export businesses.

You can connect with the Registrationwala team for assistance with:

• Filing the Spice Board application

• Preparing all the required documents (including the IEC issued by DGFT)

• Conducting a thorough follow-up to ensure you receive the registration on time and can smoothly start your spice export business.

Furthermore, our experts will assist you with any queries related to Spice Board registration or renewal. So, if you’re planning to export spices, make a wise choice by choosing Registrationwala. We’ll help you in filing your Spice Board Certificate application as shortly as possible!

FAQs: Spice Board Registration

Q1. Which authority grants authorization to businesses for exporting spices from India?
A. The Spices Board of India issues export authorization for spices.

Q2. Under which Act was the Spices Board of India established?
A. The Spices Board of India was established under the Spices Board Act 1986.

Q3. For how many spices does the Spices Board issue a Certificate of Registration as an Exporter of Spices (CRES)?
A. The Spices Board issues Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) for a total of 52 spices.

Q4. Is Spices Board registration required for exporting pomegranate seeds?
A. Yes, Spices Board registration is required for pomegranate seeds. Pomegranate seeds are often used as a spice. 

Q5. How to get Spice Board certificate?

A. To get a Spice Board certificate, you can file an application online on the official Spices Board of India website.

Q6. Where is the head office of Spice Board of India?

A. The head office of Spice Board of India is in Kochi, Kerala.

Q7. What is the validity period of Spice Board Certificate?
A. The validity period of a Spice Board Certificate is three years from the date of issuance.

Q8. When is Spice Board certificate renewal required?

A. The Spice Board certificate, officially known as Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES), has to be renewed by the exporter every three years from the date of issue. Doing so will ensure smooth and continuous business operations pertaining to export of spice. 

Q9. What is the minimum turnover required for a company to register with the Spice Board?

A. The minimum turnover required for a company to register with the Spice Board is at least Rs. 2.5 lakh from spice sales in the previous year.