The National Government carried out the modernization and unification of the sanitary control procedures for imported food, adapting them to more efficient and coordinated standards, through the promulgation of Decree No. 790/2025.
The regulation, published this Tuesday (November 11, 2025), modifies Decree No. 1812/1992, establishing that imports with free sale certificates or equivalent documents issued by health authorities of countries with high levels of surveillance will not be subject to additional controls. According to the official text, the initiative seeks to “guarantee the safety and quality of products entering the national territory,” while also simplifying and streamlining foreign trade procedures.
Unification of controls
The measure unifies inspection procedures that were previously scattered among different agencies and regulations, avoiding duplication. Thus, SENASA will be responsible for the pre-entry checks to the square for products of animal or plant origin that are not packaged for direct sale to the public, while the ANMAT will carry out the controls after entry into the market of the products conditioned for direct sale, within their area of competence.
Exemptions for certificates
As previously stated, the decree establishes that foods with free sale certification or equivalent documents issued by competent authorities of countries with adequate levels of health surveillance will not be subject to additional controls. Among the countries whose certifications exempt them from additional controls, according to the new Annex III of Decree No. 2126/1971, are included:
- to Canada
- USA
- Commonwealth of Australia
- New Zealand
- State of Israel
- Japan
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Member countries of the European Union
- Member countries of the European Free Trade Association
- Those with Economic Integration Treaties or Reciprocity Agreements in health and hygiene matters
The decree incorporates a risk management-based approachallowing control resources to be focused on products that pose the greatest health or phytosanitary risk.
With this regulatory update, Argentina optimizes coordination between health authorities, simplifies procedures, avoids overlapping controls, and strengthens both public health protection and the efficiency of foreign trade.
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