The Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC) has its roots dating back to 1956, when it was established as the Indian Oilseeds & Produce Exporters Association (IOPEPA). It was subsequently granted the official status as an Export Promotion Council by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India in 2006. Beyond its primary focus on exports, IOPEPC plays a pivotal role in bolstering India's domestic supply chain of Oilseeds. The Council collaborates closely with farmers, shellers, processors, surveyors, and exporters to elevate the quality standards of Oilseeds across the nation.

Founded during a preliminary meeting in Bombay on June 23rd, 1956, under the presidency of the late Shri Lalji Mehrotra, former President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and India's erstwhile ambassador to Myanmar and Japan, IOPEPC has since made significant strides. Notable figures such as the late Shri Naval H. Tata of the Tata Group and late Shri Babubhai Raja of Raja Oil Mills provided strong leadership as founder President and founder Chairman respectively. Over the years, a dedicated cadre of senior and dynamic office bearers has steadfastly contributed to IOPEPC's national and international recognition.

Today, IOPEPC serves as a prominent Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, acting as a pivotal platform for Indian Oilseeds and vegetable Oils exporters, foreign buyers, government bodies, R&D agencies, and international stakeholders. IOPEPC has proactively initiated collaborations and formalized Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key institutions such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research in Hyderabad and Project Coordinator of AICRP Sesame and Niger in Jabalpur, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and ICAR- Directorate of Groundnut Research in Junagadh

The Council's core functions include organizing awareness programs for quality enhancement in Oilseed exports, conducting training initiatives nationwide, facilitating market studies to enhance market access, resolving trade barriers with governmental support, fostering export markets through buyer-seller meets and international trade show participation, and maintaining comprehensive databases and statistics within the Oilseeds sector. Additionally, IOPEPC analyses government policies to provide strategic advisories to its members and disseminates market intelligence through cluster studies, research reports, journals, and crop surveys.

Furthermore, IOPEPC actively interfaces with Indian embassies and international trade bodies, conducts annual satellite-based crop surveys for Groundnuts and Sesame and serves as an institutional arbitrator for both domestic and international contractual disputes.

In essence, IOPEPC remains committed to strengthening the entire value chain of India's Oilseed sector, fostering synergy among stakeholders, and promoting a sustainable ecosystem for continued growth and prosperity in the industry.

• Engaged in the development and promotion of exports of oilseeds, oils, Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC), erstwhile known as IOPEA, has been catering to the needs of exporters since over half a decade. Besides focusing on exports, the Council also works towards strengthening of domestic supply chain by encouraging farmers, shellers, processors, surveyors and exporters to enhance the quality of oilseeds in India.
• Formerly known as IOPEA, it was formed on 23 rd June 1956, at a preliminary meeting held in Bombay under the Presidentship of late Shri Lalji Mehrotra, former President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and India's one time ambassador to Myanmar and Japan.
• The formation of IOPEA was, in fact, the first organized effort to promote and protect the interests of India 's export trade in commodities like Oilseeds, Vegetable Oils in a collective and concerted manner through a representative body. With subsequent setting up of sectoral Associations for different extraction cakes, IOPEPC concentrated it's attention and activities mainly on productivity and export of oilseeds and vegetable oils. IOPEPC is thus the pioneer body for oilseeds and oils in the country.
• IOPEPC has come a long way since then. Eminent personalities like late Shri Naval H. Tata of the House of Tatas and late Shri Babubhai Raja of Raja Oil Mills gave it a flying start as founder President and founder Chairman and the galaxy of senior as well as young and dynamic office bearers who lined up steadfastly and enthusiastically all these years, served the trade and industry so well that it brought forth recognition to IOPEA not only at the National level but also at the International level.
• Shri Ratilal M. Gandhi, freedom fighter and a close associate of Sardar Patel and other national leaders, who was President of the Indian Merchants' Chamber and founder chairman of the Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade and Shri P.L. Tandon, former Chairman of M/s Hindustan Lever Ltd., State Trading Corporation of India and Punjab National Bank have been past Presidents of IOPEA.
• As an association in the past and as an Export Promotion Council (EPC), recognized by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, presently, IOPEPC serves as the common forum for the Indian oilseeds/ vegetable oils exporters, foreign buyers, the Indian Government, R & D agencies for oilseeds and vegetable oils in India, International agencies and many other official bodies and authorities globally.
• Since 1991, IOPEPC has been functioning as the Indian liaison office of FOSFA International, London and is also a kindred Association Member of FOSFA. The Peanut Councils of developed countries like Germany, Netherlands, UK and USA have already recognized IOPEPC as the main representative from India.