RNPA: food product registration for products exported to Argentina
The RNPA (National Food Product Registry) is the number that identifies each food product authorized in Argentina. It is needed for every product imported from countries outside Annex III of Decree 35/2025, and also for additives, ingredients and dietary supplements. Since Decree 697/2026 it is granted by SENASA, which replaced the former INAL. The RNPA belongs to the product and requires the importer to already hold an RNE.
- Agency
- SENASA
- Estimated timing
- 30 business days, the duration set by Res. SAGyP 135/2026 (IC4000).
- Official fee
- $ 303.450
- Our fee
- Tailored quote
Why it is mandatory
Art. 3 of Law 18.284 requires prior authorization for each food product. The RNPA is that authorization: it certifies that composition, process and label comply with the Food Code. It is the approval that allows the product to be sold and remain on shelves, and the number printed on the label that any inspection will check.
The registration is tied to the importer who holds it. A change of importer, brand or formula requires a transfer or modification. RNPAs issued by the former INAL remain valid without re-registration (Decree 697/2026, art. 32).
Most of the technical file is information only the manufacturer has: composition, specifications, process and the certificate of free sale. The faster you supply it, the sooner your buyer can place orders.
What the regulation says
«A los efectos de la autorización a que se refiere el artículo 3° de la Ley N° 18.284, deberá presentarse ante la Autoridad Sanitaria competente la correspondiente solicitud, en la que se consignarán las siguientes informaciones: (…) c) Marca o nombre propuesto para el producto y denominación del Código Alimentario Argentino. Se acompañará modelo de rótulos o etiquetas.»Unofficial translation: “For the purposes of the authorization referred to in article 3 of Law No. 18,284, the corresponding application must be filed with the competent Health Authority, stating the following information: (…) c) Brand or name proposed for the product and its Argentine Food Code designation. A label model shall be attached.”
«d)Suspensión o cancelación de la autorización de elaboración, comercialización y expendio de los productos en infracción; (…) En tal caso la suspensión o cancelación de su producción, elaboración y/o fraccionamiento quedará circunscripta a la planta de origen, pero el producto no podrá ser comercializado ni expedido en ninguna parte del país, cualquiera sea la jurisdicción en que se aplique la medida.»Unofficial translation: “d) Suspension or cancellation of the authorization to manufacture, market and sell the products in violation; (…) In that case the suspension or cancellation of their production, processing and/or splitting shall be limited to the plant of origin, but the product may not be marketed or dispatched anywhere in the country, regardless of the jurisdiction in which the measure is applied.”
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.
- 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
Registered in the RNPA one by one:
- Packaged food and non-alcoholic beverages from countries not in Annex III.
- Additives, processing aids and ingredients, when not certified by an Annex III country.
- Dietary supplements (see dietary supplement registration).
- Foods for special medical purposes.
- Each variety, flavor or presentation that changes composition is a different product.
Requirements and documents
Under Disp. (ANMAT) 537/2025, as a sworn statement. Most of these items come from the manufacturer:
- Name under the CAA, brand and trade name.
- Qualitative and quantitative composition in decreasing order of weight, including additives.
- Physicochemical and microbiological specifications of the product.
- Storage conditions and shelf life.
- Manufacturing process up to final presentation.
- Certificate of free sale or marketing authorization from the country of origin.
- A label complying with Chapter V of the CAA, with the front-of-pack seals declaration where applicable.
- Proof of fee payment.
Official fees and timing
| Concept | Amount | Valid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration, re-registration or transfer in the RNPA, dietary supplements and foods for special medical purposes (IC4000) | $ 303.450 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Modifications in the RNPA, per modification (IC4172) | $ 176.700 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
| Use of remaining label stock (IC4013) | $ 216.750 | 2026 | Res. (SAGyP) 135/2026, Anexo |
SENASA fees per product. Private laboratory analysis, translation of the certificate of free sale and label design are not official fees and are quoted separately.
Estimated timing
30 business days, the duration set by Res. SAGyP 135/2026 (IC4000).
Depends on: Dec. 697/2026 requires the authority to decide within 30 days, after which the product can be sold with the filing number. It depends on the product fitting a CAA category, a label without observations and the category being enabled in the RNE.
Our fee is quoted in writing for your case: upload your documents below and get a tailored quote.
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How we handle it remotely
Scoping
We review the technical sheet and define the CAA denomination, the category and whether the product needs warning seals.
Manufacturer documents
We send you the exact list of what to provide: composition, specifications, process and certificate of free sale.
Label
We review the Spanish label before filing, so nobody pays for a modification later.
Filing and follow-up
We file the application, your importer pays the fee we indicate and we answer every SENASA observation.
RNPA number
The importer receives the number and the product file, ready for food import authorization.
Risks of not having it
- Without an RNPA there is no import authorization (LPCOVUCE0029) and the goods are not released.
- A label that does not match the registration exposes the batch to market withdrawal, with recall and destruction costs borne by the importer (Disp. 537/2025).
- SENASA can take samples and suspend circulation of the product until the analysis result is available (Decree 697/2026, arts. 4 and 10).
- Breaches of the CAA are sanctioned under Law 18.284, now enforced by SENASA (Decree 697/2026, art. 8).
15+ years with Argentine agencies
After more than 15 years registering food products in Argentina, we know an RNPA is rarely questioned for its formula; it is questioned for its label. Names that do not match the Food Code, ingredients in the wrong order, nutrition panels that do not reconcile with the declared composition. We build label and technical file together and cross-check them line by line before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does RNPA registration cost?
SENASA's official fee to register, re-register or transfer a product in the RNPA is ARS 303,450 in 2026 (code IC4000, SAGyP Res. 135/2026). It is paid per product. Each later modification costs ARS 176,700 (IC4172). Private costs such as analysis or translations come on top and are not official fees.
Is the RNPA issued by INAL or SENASA?
Since Decree 697/2026, published on 3 August 2026, registration of imported food products is SENASA's responsibility. INAL is no longer part of the National Food Control System. RNPAs previously issued by INAL remain valid without re-registration; new filings and modifications are made with SENASA.
Is an RNPA needed if the food comes from an Annex III country?
Not for that operation. If the product has a certificate of free sale from an Annex III country under Decree 35/2025, the import notice with sworn statement is enough. The Spanish label with the importer's data and compliance with CAA limits remain mandatory.
Does one RNPA cover several flavors?
Only if the composition does not change. Each product with a different formula, for example another flavor with other ingredients or additives, is registered separately and pays its own fee. Before filing, we review your full line to group what can be grouped and avoid unnecessary registrations.
What happens if SENASA does not answer in time?
Decree 697/2026 sets 30 days for the authority to decide on the product authorization request. After that period, the applicant can use the filing number and sell without limitation until approval, subject to inspection and sampling. That is why the documentation should be complete from the start.
Related procedures
RNE: establishment registration
The RNE (National Establishment Registry) is the registration of the importing company and of each warehouse where food or packaging is stored.
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…
SENASAFront-of-pack labeling (seals)
Front-of-pack labeling means the black octagonal seals (excess sugars, total fat, saturated fat, sodium and calories) and the precautionary statements required by Law …
SENASADietary supplements
Dietary supplement registration is the entry of each supplement in the RNPA so it can be sold in Argentina: protein powders, vitamins, minerals, creatine, collagen, pr…
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- 1Upload your documents and tell us about the product.
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