Import food to Argentina: SENASA procedures, fees and timing
Food, beverages, ingredients and food-contact packaging enter Argentina by one of two routes, decided by the country that issues the certificate of free sale (CFS). If it is an Annex III country (EU, USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand or Israel), the CFS plus an import notice is enough. Otherwise the Argentine importer first needs establishment (RNE) and product registration, then an authorization for every shipment. Since Dec. 697/2026 SENASA handles it, replacing INAL.
What kind of food do you import?
Beverages, preserves, dairy, dry goods, confectionery, supplements and the packaging that touches them.
Two routes, decided by the certificate of free sale
Route 1: CFS from an Annex III country
No establishment or product registration. Your buyer files the CFS and one import notice per model on every shipment, as the agency requires.
For customs clearance the notice only needs to be filed, even if not yet approved.
Route 2: CFS from any other country
Establishment and product are registered first. Then every shipment needs its import authorization (free circulation) per model.
For customs clearance the authorization must be approved: filing it is not enough.
Official fees and timing
| Procedure | Route | Applies | Official SENASA fee | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import notice (Annex III) | 1 · Annex III | per model and per shipment | 1.5% of FOB value (under ARS 50,000,000) or 1.25% (from ARS 50,000,000) | Up to 5 business days |
| RNE establishment registration, per warehouse | 2 · Registration | one time | ARS 424,950 | Up to 30 days |
| Food product registration (RNPA) | 2 · Registration | per product | ARS 303,450 | 30 business days |
| Food-contact packaging authorization | 2 · Registration | per product | ARS 233,700 | Up to 20 days |
| Import authorization (free circulation) | 2 · Registration | per model and per shipment | 1.5% of FOB value (under ARS 50,000,000) or 1.25% (from ARS 50,000,000) | Up to 5 business days |
Official SENASA fees in 2026 (Res. SAGyP 135/2026). Percentages apply to the FOB value. Timing is real-world, with complete documents. Our fees are not included: ask and we send a written quote.
Tell us the product and its origin: we confirm the route and the total cost.
Why it matters after customs
Dec. 697/2026 moved food registration, control and enforcement from INAL to SENASA. Existing RNE and RNPA registrations remain valid, and customs still uses LPCO 0028 (notice) and LPCO 0029 (authorization).
Compliance does not end at customs: the product must show its registration or notice while it is on sale, and the Argentine Food Code provides for seizure and closure when it is not met.
How we handle it remotely
We define the route
From the certificate of free sale and the product sheet we confirm whether it goes by notice (Annex III) or by registration and authorization.
Written quote
SENASA fees calculated on the shipment and number of models, plus our fee in writing.
We prepare and file
Technical sheet, label, RNE and product registration where needed, and the notice or authorization for each shipment.
The LPCO goes to the customs broker
With the notice filed or the authorization approved, your buyer's broker declares it and the goods are released.
Frequently asked questions
What is Annex III for food imports to Argentina?
It is the Dec. 35/2025 list of high-surveillance countries: EU, USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand and Israel. If the food's certificate of free sale comes from one of them, no establishment or product registration is needed: the CFS plus an import notice per model on each shipment is enough.
How much does a food import notice cost?
SENASA charges an official fee of 1.5% of FOB value for shipments under ARS 50,000,000 and 1.25% above that, per notice. The notice is filed per model and per shipment and takes up to 5 business days. Our fee is separate: ask and we send a written quote.
What if the product comes from China or Brazil?
Neither is in Annex III, so it goes by registration: RNE establishment (official fee ARS 424,950, up to 30 days) and RNPA product registration (ARS 303,450, 30 business days), or packaging authorization (ARS 233,700). Then each shipment needs an authorization, with an official fee of 1.5% or 1.25% of FOB value.
Can goods be cleared while the procedure is pending?
With an import notice, yes: it only needs to be filed. With an import authorization, no: it must be approved before clearance, because without a valid LPCO the customs system rejects the declaration.
Get a tailored quote for your food import
If you already have experience and want a competitive quote to compare, or to optimize costs and timing, send us your background documents and we quote with priority.
- 1Upload your documents and tell us about the product.
- 2We review them against the regulation that applies.
- 3You receive a written quote and, if something is missing, the exact list.
- 15+ years with Argentine agencies
- Fully remote, nationwide
- Official fees published with source
- Reply within 6 hours
- Experience with every agency
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