As soon as a unit/developer is issued Letter of Approval by the office of the concerned Development Commissioner/Board of Approval (BOA) to set up an EOU, SEZ unit or SEZ Developer the said unit becomes eligible to become the member of EPCES.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India has made the membership of Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES ) mandatory as per the below mentioned Notifications& Public Notice:-

1. For SEZ Units, Developers & Co-Developers:
   Notification G.S.R.No.771( E ) dated 5.8.2016 which states that “The unit or the developer including co-developer shall obtain a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate for availing exemptions, drawback and concessions”.   It further states that “Registration-cum-Membership Certificate” means the membership certificate issued by Export Promotion Council for Export Oriented Units and Special Economic Zones”.
2. For Export Oriented Units (EOUs):
   Public Notice No. 27/2015-2020, New Delhi dated 26-8-2019 issued by DGFT, states that “EPCES is recognised as the registering authority for the EOUs” http://dgft.gov.in/sites/default/files/scan0011_1.pdf

Hence, as per the above mentioned notification EPCES membership for all the EOUs & SEZ units, Developers and Co-Developers under the EOUs & SEZ Scheme is mandatory.