Northwest Horticultural Council

Export Manual

ARGENTINA

Capital: Buenos Aires
Population: 46,944,384  (2024)
Currency: Peso
Official Language(s): Spanish

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I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)

The NHC’s MRL Database is a resource only available to U.S. growers, packers, and shippers of apples, pears, and sweet cherries who are located in the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and those that work with them. It is intended to be an initial guide for those U.S. Pacific Northwest companies interested in exporting tree fruit to select markets of interest. Commercially important information should be rechecked and verified with knowledgeable parties in the country of interest prior to sales or shipment. This Database utilizes global MRL data partially funded by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and managed by FoodChain ID. By accessing and using the NHC’s MRL Database, you acknowledge and agree that you have read and accept the foregoing terms and conditions of use and agree to be bound by them as an express condition to your continued use of the Database.

To access the MRL Database, click here.

II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION

A. Chemical residue standards:

Argentina maintains a national list, deferring to Codex in the absence of an established national MRL. When there is no established national or Codex MRL, a default MRL of 0.01 ppm is applied.

B. Monitoring chemical residues:

For further information contact:
Corporacion del Mercado Central de Buenos Aires
Aut. Ricchieri y. Boulogne Sur Mer
1771 Tapiales
Pcia. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fax:  (5411) 4480-5626

C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

There are no restrictions.

III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS

Argentina must recognize U.S. organic standards before organically labeled product may be exported. Efforts to achieve Argentine recognition of the U.S. organic standard began in August 2001. To date, no approval has been granted.

IV. TARIFFS

Apples      10%
Pears        10%
Cherries   10%

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

A. Labeling requirements:

The government of Argentina requires fruit packaging to show the following:  species, state, name of packing house, commercial brand, country, date of packing, grade, variety and units per pack or net weight.

B. Licenses and quotas:

An import permit is required.

C. Currency Issues:

None.

D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:

Argentina agreed to new import protocols for apples, pears, and cherries in 2021. In January 2022, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) notified the NHC that import permits will be issued by Argentine authorities upon request by importers.

Import permits are required to obtain a phytosanitary certificate.
Import requirements:

For apples:
The phytosanitary certificate must include:
Additional Declarations for apples:

• • • The consignment was inspected and found free from Archips rosana, Argyrotaenia citrana, Choristoneura rosaceana, Cydia packardi, Cydia prunivora, Pandemis heparana, Pandemis pyrusana, Platynota idaeusalis, Anarsia lineatella, and Conotrachelus nenuphar.
    • The consignment must come from an area that is under an official program and was inspected and found free from Rhagoletis pomonella.
      OR
    • The consignment underwent a quarantine cold treatment at origin and was found free from Rhagoletis pomonella.

Place of Origin: specify County or part of County and State

For pears:
The phytosanitary certificate must include:
Additional Declarations for pears:

Place of Origin: specify County or part of County and State

For cherries:
Cherries must be fumigated with methyl bromide for export.
The phytosanitary certificate must include:
Additional Declarations for cherries:

• • • The consignment was inspected and found free from Archips argyrospilus, Argyrotaenia citrana, Anarsia lineatella, Choristoneura rosaceana, Cydia packardi, Cydia prunivora, Cydia latiferreana, and Conotrachelus nenuphar.
    • The consignment was subjected to a quarantine treatment of methyl bromide at origin and is free from Rhagoletis ssp.

Place of Origin: specify County or part of County and State

VI. SUBSIDES

The Government of Argentina provides export rebates for fresh fruit. Rebates are calculated on the price per metric ton FOB declared by the exporter.

Apples & Pears	Boxes (net weight)	Rebates
	in boxes containing 2.5 kilos or less	6 percent
	in boxes containing between 2.5 kilos and 20 kilos	5 percent

VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS

Governmental:

• • • The World Factbook (Central Intelligence Agency)
    • Argentina (U.S. Commercial Service/Department of Commerce)
    • U.S. Embassy
      • Foreign Agricultural Service/Buenos Aires

VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Special thanks to
FAS Field Office – Argentina