AP Quality Certification Cost Top-up Scheme — 100% Reimbursement — Frequently Asked Questions

It is an incentive from the Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh, that sits under the state's Micro and Small Enterprise Development Policy (MEDP) 4.0 and Food Processing Policy (FPP) 4.0 for 2024-29. Its purpose is to reimburse the balance cost an eligible entity bears when obtaining a quality certification.

It reimburses 100% of the balance cost of the certification — that is, the amount left once any Government of India subsidy for the same certificate has been deducted. No fixed rupee figure or ceiling is stated, because the payout varies with what you actually paid and what central support you have already received.

Micro, small and medium enterprises covered by MEDP 4.0 and FPP 4.0 are eligible. So are farmer producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs), federations and cooperative societies, though for these entities eligibility hinges on the size of the investment involved.

No. It draws from both the food processing policy and the wider micro and small enterprise development policy, so enterprises in food processing and in general manufacturing are both within its scope as long as they are covered by the relevant policy and have incurred a certification cost.

There is no fixed cut-off. The scheme is part of a policy that runs through 2024-29 and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. That said, it makes sense to file as soon as the certification cost has been incurred and any Government of India subsidy has been processed, since the claim depends on those numbers.

No. This is a reimbursement subsidy delivered as a one-time cash payment, not an investment, so there is no shareholding or stake involved. You are simply being paid back a cost you have already incurred.

The document checklist calls for proof of enterprise registration — Udyam registration for an MSME, incorporation documents for a company, or registration papers for an FPO, SHG or cooperative. DPIIT recognition is not mentioned as a requirement for this particular scheme.

Expect to provide proof of enterprise registration, financial statements, the invoices and payment receipts for the quality certification you obtained, and proof of any Government of India subsidy you received for that same certificate. The designated authority reviews these to confirm eligibility and verify the claim.

Yes — that is exactly how the scheme is designed. A Government of India subsidy for the certification is accounted for first, and this scheme then reimburses the remaining cost, so the two together can cover the full certification expense.

Start by obtaining the application form from the Department of Industries, Government of Andhra Pradesh, or from its district offices. Once completed with the supporting documents, the application is submitted and reviewed by the designated authority, and the approved reimbursement is paid out in a single instalment. Applications can be made online at https://www.apindustries.gov.in/Incentives/Index.aspx.

AP Quality Certification Cost Top-up Scheme — 100% Reimbursement is offered by Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.