Food import authorization for products from outside Annex III
Food import authorization is SENASA's (formerly INAL) intervention for each shipment of food, inputs or packaging that is not certified by an Annex III country under Decree 35/2025: China, India, Brazil, Turkey or any other origin outside that list. Beforehand, the importer needs its company in the RNE and each product in the RNPA. The authorization reaches the customs system (SIM) as LPCOVUCE0029.
- Agency
- SENASA
- Estimated timing
- Up to 5 business days per authorization, once RNE and product registration are approved.
- Official fee
- 1,5 % del valor FOB
- Our fee
- Tailored quote
Why it is mandatory
Art. 4 of Annex II of Decree 2126/71, as amended by Decree 697/2026, requires importers outside the Annex III scenario to request import authorization, which includes RNE registration, RNPA registration and the Nutritional Seals and Warnings Declaration.
The authorization is the approval that allows that batch to circulate, be sold and remain on the market. SENASA can carry out an analytical verification of a product that has arrived and, until the result is in, does not authorize its circulation or sale. If you hold certification from an Annex III country, the shorter path is the food import notice.
This is where shipments get held: without a valid LPCO the customs entry is rejected. For you as exporter, the registrations must be in place before the goods sail, not when they arrive.
What the regulation says
«Los importadores que no se encuentren comprendidos en el supuesto estipulado en el inciso a) del presente artículo deberán completar una solicitud de “autorización de importación” mediante la que se gestiona la inscripción en los Registros Nacionales de Establecimientos (R.N.E.), de Productos Alimenticios (R.N.P.A.) y la Declaración de Sellos y Advertencias Nutricionales. (…) Su circulación, comercialización y expendio no se autorizará hasta tanto pueda disponerse del resultado de dicha verificación.»Unofficial translation: “Importers not covered by subsection a) of this article must file an "import authorization" request, through which registration in the National Registers of Establishments (R.N.E.) and Food Products (R.N.P.A.) and the Declaration of Nutritional Seals and Warnings are processed. (…) Its circulation, marketing and sale shall not be authorized until the result of such verification is available.”
«Las infracciones a las disposiciones del Código Alimentario Argentino, a las de esta ley, y a las de su reglamentación, serán pasibles de las siguientes sanciones que se graduarán, pudiendo acumularse de acuerdo a las circunstancias, gravedad y proyecciones de cada caso, sin perjuicio de las pertinentes disposiciones del Código Penal. (…) b)Comiso de los efectos o mercaderías en infracción;»Unofficial translation: “Violations of the provisions of the Argentine Food Code, of this law and of its regulations shall be subject to the following penalties, which shall be graded and may be combined according to the circumstances, seriousness and implications of each case, without prejudice to the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code. (…) b) Seizure of the goods or merchandise in violation;”
Rules that require it
- Dec. 697/2026 (BO 03/08/2026): Concentrates in SENASA the registration, control and oversight of CAA foods and removes INAL from the National Food Control System. Recognizes previous licenses and registrations as valid without re-registration (art. 32).
- Disp. (ANMAT) 537/2025 (BO 30/01/2025): Procedure for import notice and authorization, RNE, RNPA and packaging authorization. Repeals, among others, Disp. 14023/2016, 1307/2017 and 2953/2021.
- RG (ARCA) 5731/2025 (BO 31/07/2025): Brings the food import notice and authorization into VUCEA, validated by the SIM as an LPCO.
- Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026 (BO 07/08/2026): Adds to SENASA's fee schedule (SAGyP Res. 54/2026) the food fees previously charged by ANMAT, with their procedure duration.
- Dec. 35/2025 (BO 20/01/2025): Adds Annex III to Decree 2126/71: countries whose sanitary certification is recognized for imported food and packaging.
Products covered
Authorization is required, when there is no Annex III certification, for:
- Packaged food and non-alcoholic beverages for sale.
- Raw materials, additives and ingredients for exclusive use in the importer's plant (UPEI).
- Packaging and utensils in contact with food (consolidated packaging authorization).
- Dietary supplements and foods for special medical purposes.
- Temporary imports of food.
Requirements and documents
With a valid RNE and RNPA, Disp. (ANMAT) 537/2025 requires declaring:
- Data of the importing company and the authorized warehouse.
- Data of each registered product and quantities.
- Purpose: sale, UPEI or sample without commercial value.
- Commercial invoice, bill of lading, air waybill or CRT, and country of shipment. Your documents must match the registrations exactly.
- Proof of fee payment.
Official fees and timing
| Concept | Amount | Valid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated food and UPEI import authorization, up to 4 presentations (IC4705 A) | 1,5 % del valor FOB | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Consolidated food and UPEI import authorization, up to 4 presentations (IC4705 B) | 1,25 % del valor FOB | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Temporary import authorization (IC4071) | $ 66.300 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| RNE registration, per warehouse (IC4045), and RNPA registration, per product (IC4000) | $ 424.950 y $ 303.450 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
Under the schedule of Disp. (ANMAT) 2978/2026, adopted by SAGyP Res. 135/2026, 1.5% applies below ARS 50,000,000 and 1.25% to equal or higher amounts. SENASA analyses follow its laboratory schedule; private analyses and warehouse costs are quoted separately.
Estimated timing
Up to 5 business days per authorization, once RNE and product registration are approved.
Depends on: If they are not in place yet, add up to 30 days for the RNE and 30 business days for the RNPA. For customs clearance the authorization must be approved: filing it is not enough. Res. SAGyP 135/2026 sets a 2-business-day duration for the authorization.
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How we handle it remotely
Operation map
We review origin, products and warehouse, and build the timeline with you and your buyer: RNE first, then RNPA, and finally the authorization per shipment.
Prior registrations
We run RNE and RNPA in parallel with your documentation so everything is approved before the cargo arrives.
Request per shipment
With the invoice and transport document, we file the consolidated authorization and indicate the fee on the FOB value.
LPCO
We pass on the number so the importer's customs broker declares it as LPCOVUCE0029 in the SIM.
Verification
If SENASA requests samples or inspection, we coordinate remotely with the warehouse and follow the result until sale is released.
Risks of not having it
- Without a valid LPCOVUCE0029, the SIM rejects the declaration: a tax ID, country of origin or validity that does not match triggers an error (VUCE Manual, RG ARCA 5731/2025).
- Goods in the warehouse that cannot be sold while SENASA's analytical verification runs (Decree 2126/71, Annex II, art. 4, as amended by Decree 697/2026).
- Control before release if there are signs of deterioration or document inconsistencies (Decree 1812/92, art. 7).
15+ years with Argentine agencies
For food from countries outside Annex III, each shipment needs an import authorization backed by RNE and RNPA registrations. We have worked this circuit for more than 15 years, across three regulatory frameworks. Delays come from inconsistency: registrations, free-sale certificate and commercial invoice must describe the same product in the same words. We audit that chain document by document before filing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the import notice and import authorization?
It depends on who certifies the product. With a certificate of free sale from an Annex III country (EU, US, Japan, among others), the importer files a notice with a sworn statement and no prior registrations. From any other origin, it needs RNE, RNPA and an authorization for each operation.
How much does import authorization cost?
SENASA's fee is a percentage of the FOB value: 1.5% or 1.25% depending on the bracket (SAGyP Res. 135/2026), covering up to 4 consolidated presentations. According to the schedule of ANMAT Disp. 2978/2026, which that resolution adopted, 1.5% applies to imports below ARS 50,000,000. For a first operation, add the RNE and RNPA fees.
Can authorization be requested with the goods already shipped?
Authorization is requested per operation, with the invoice and transport document. What cannot be done at the last minute is the RNE and RNPA, which take 30 business days each according to Res. 135/2026. If goods ship without those registrations, the cargo waits in a bonded warehouse and costs add up.
What happens if SENASA carries out an analytical verification?
SENASA samples the product that has arrived and, until the result is in, does not authorize its circulation or sale. A control expert review can be requested within 3 days of notice of the result. A complete file and a correctly classified product reduce observations.
Do MERCOSUR products go by notice or by authorization?
Annex III mentions countries with economic integration treaties or sanitary reciprocity agreements, but Decree 697/2026 clarifies that in those cases the authority may recognize the certification after evaluating each country's control system. Before shipment, we confirm with you which path applies to your product and origin.
Is the authorization still issued in INAL's name?
Competence lies with SENASA since Decree 697/2026. The current VUCE manual still describes LPCO 0028 and 0029 with references to INAL, and ARCA has not published an update we could confirm. In practice, we follow the file until the LPCO validates in the SIM.
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- 1Upload your documents and tell us about the product.
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