RNE: food establishment registration for importers and warehouses in Argentina
The RNE (National Establishment Registry) is the registration of the importing company and of each warehouse where food or packaging is stored. It is required when food is imported from countries not listed in Annex III of Decree 35/2025, or when food is manufactured, packed or stored in Argentina. Since Decree 697/2026 it is granted by SENASA, which took over the registration functions of the former INAL. The RNE registers the company; each product is registered separately in the RNPA.
- Agency
- SENASA
- Estimated timing
- Up to 30 days.
- Official fee
- $ 424.950
- Our fee
- Tailored quote
Why it is mandatory
Law 18.284 requires every food that is manufactured, packed, stored, imported or sold to comply with the Argentine Food Code (CAA). The RNE proves that the importer and its warehouse are authorized to handle food. Without an RNE there is no food import authorization and no RNPA.
It is not a one-shipment formality: it is the approval that allows products to be sold and stay on the market. SENASA can inspect the warehouse at any time (Decree 697/2026, art. 10) and request supporting documents years after import.
An RNE granted by the former INAL remains valid without re-registration (Decree 697/2026, art. 32). What changes is the agency that handles any modification. For you as an exporter, your buyer's RNE is the first item to check before a first order.
What the regulation says
«La instalación y funcionamiento de las Fábricas y Comercios de Alimentos y de Envases y Materiales en contacto con alimentos, serán autorizados por la autoridad sanitaria correspondiente al lugar donde se produzcan, elaboren, fraccionen, depositen, conserven o expendan. Cuando se trate de operaciones de importación y/o exportación de productos elaborados, las Fábricas o Comercios de Alimentos (…) deberán registrarse ante la autoridad correspondiente, con la documentación exigida para su habilitación.»Unofficial translation: “The installation and operation of Food Factories and Businesses and of Packaging and Materials in contact with food shall be authorized by the health authority of the place where they are produced, processed, split, stored, preserved or sold. In the case of import and/or export operations of processed products, Food Factories or Businesses (…) must register with the relevant authority, with the documentation required for their authorization.”
«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 (…) b)Comiso de los efectos o mercaderías en infracción; c)Clausura temporal, total ó parcial del establecimiento;»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 (…) b) Seizure of the goods or merchandise in violation; c) Temporary, total or partial closure of the establishment;”
Rules that require it
- Ley 18.284 y Dec. 2126/1971 (Código Alimentario Argentino): General framework: every food manufactured, packed, imported or sold must comply with the CAA.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
Products covered
An RNE is needed by companies dealing with:
- Imported packaged food for sale, when the country of origin is not in Annex III.
- Raw materials, additives and ingredients for exclusive use in the importer's own plant (UPEI).
- Packaging and utensils in contact with food (RNE packaging category).
- Dietary supplements and foods for special medical purposes.
- Each own or third-party warehouse where goods are stored: the fee is paid per warehouse.
Requirements and documents
Disp. (ANMAT) 537/2025 requires, as a sworn statement:
- Importer data: company name, tax ID (CUIT), address, bylaws where applicable and registration as importer with customs.
- Warehouse tax ID and address, municipal permit and a schematic plan of the establishment.
- Product categories and lines to be handled.
- Proof of fee payment with the corresponding code.
- A technical director, when the category requires one.
Official fees and timing
| Concept | Amount | Valid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration, re-registration or transfer in the RNE as food or packaging importer/exporter, per warehouse (IC4045) | $ 424.950 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Extension or modification of category in the RNE (IC4050) | $ 213.150 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Modification and/or addition of a warehouse in the RNE (IC4054) | $ 290.100 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Modification of a warehouse's building structure in the RNE (IC4051) | $ 224.100 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
These are SENASA fees, which since 7 August 2026 replace those previously charged by ANMAT. The technical director, plans and municipal permit are not national fees and are quoted separately.
Estimated timing
Up to 30 days.
Depends on: That is the real-world time for registration, in line with the 30 business days set by Res. SAGyP 135/2026 (IC4045). It depends on complete warehouse documents, no observations and whether SENASA inspects first.
Our fee is quoted in writing for your case: upload your documents below and get a tailored quote.
Already have part of the documents? Upload them and get a quote.
How we handle it remotely
Assessment
We review what will be shipped, from which countries and to which warehouse, to define whether your buyer needs an RNE or whether the food import notice is enough.
File preparation
We collect the company and warehouse documents by email or WhatsApp and check them before filing.
Payment and filing
We indicate the exact fee, file the sworn statement in the agency's system and follow the case.
Observations
We answer every SENASA observation so the procedure does not stall.
RNE number
The importer receives the number and an organized file for any later inspection, and you know the channel is clear.
Risks of not having it
- Without an RNE there is no RNPA and no import authorization: the goods lack the LPCO the customs system (SIM) requires (LPCOVUCE0029) and are not released.
- If the sworn statement contains inaccurate data, the agency can reject it even after it has been used (Disp. 537/2025).
- SENASA applies the sanctions of Law 18.284 and can inspect the warehouse, take samples and seize goods (Decree 697/2026, arts. 8 and 10).
- An undeclared warehouse or a category not extended invalidates the registration of products stored there.
15+ years with Argentine agencies
We have been registering food establishments with Argentina's national food authority for more than 15 years, through the move to the SIFeGA system, Disp. 537/2025 and now the transfer to SENASA. An importer's RNE rarely fails on the form itself; it fails on the warehouse: a local permit for another activity, mismatched addresses, incomplete activity lists. We cross-check all of that before filing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between RNE and RNPA?
The RNE registers the company and each warehouse; the RNPA registers each product. The RNE comes first, because the RNPA checks that the product falls within the category, line and condition authorized for the establishment. Without an RNE there is no RNPA, and without both, food from countries outside Annex III cannot get import authorization.
My buyer's RNE was issued by INAL. Does it need to be redone?
No. Art. 32 of Decree 697/2026 recognizes as valid, without re-registration, establishment licenses and product and packaging registrations that changed agency. What changes is the agency: any modification, category extension or new warehouse is now filed with SENASA and paid under its fee schedule.
Is an RNE needed for food from the EU or the US?
If the product has a certificate of free sale from an Annex III country under Decree 35/2025, the importer files an import notice with a sworn statement and no prior RNE or RNPA is needed for that operation. The label must still meet the Food Code and the importer answers to any later SENASA control.
Is an RNE paid per warehouse?
Yes. SENASA's registration fee (code IC4045, ARS 424,950 in 2026) is charged for each warehouse. Adding or changing a warehouse later triggers the fee for modification or addition of a warehouse (IC4054). It is worth defining logistics before registering.
Does anyone need to be physically present?
No. The procedure is digital and we handle it 100% remotely, from anywhere in the country and with you abroad. The only in-person step may be a SENASA inspection of the warehouse, and for that we prepare the file and explain what inspectors will look at.
Related procedures
RNPA: product registration
The RNPA (National Food Product Registry) is the number that identifies each food product authorized in Argentina.
SENASAFood import authorization
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 D…
SENASAFood contact materials
Food contact materials authorization allows packaging, films, tableware, kitchen utensils, flasks, bottles and any material that touches food to be sold in Argentina.
Provinces and CABAProvincial food registrations
When food is manufactured, packed or repackaged in Argentina, even from imported inputs, the plant and its products are registered with the health authority of the pro…
Get a tailored quote for rne: establishment registration
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
Quick question instead?