Distillers Alcohol regulations in Argentina
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Argentina, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Status
- Legal
- Legal drinking age
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Habilitación Municipal (zoning/commercial permit), RNE (Registro Nacional de Establecimiento) from provincial sanitary authority or SENASA, appointment of a registered Technical Director (Director Técnico), and excise registration with ARCA (formerly AFIP).
- Authority
- Local Municipalities, Provincial Sanitary/Bromatology Directorates (or SENASA nationally), and ARCA.
- Documents
- Commercial registration, plant blueprints/flow diagrams, lease or title deed, environmental impact approval, technical director credentials, and product hygiene process manual.
- Fees
- Varies by jurisdiction and facility scale; administrative processing fees apply per provincial and municipal tariff schedules.
- Time to obtain
- Approximately 3 to 6 months depending on provincial and municipal inspection timelines.
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Any legally registered Argentine company or individual enrolled in the ARCA/DGA Importers/Exporters Registry holding an active tax identification number (CUIT).
- Licences or registrations
- ARCA customs registry, importer RNE (or sanitary importer registration with SENASA/INV), and product import declarations via the SIFeGA/TAD platforms.
- Authority
- Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero (ARCA / DGA), SENASA (national food and spirit sanitary control), and INV (for wine and grape spirits).
- Documents
- Commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, packing list, Certificate of Free Sale (CLV) / sanitary certificate apostilled or legalized from origin, Certificate of Origin (if preferential tariffs apply), and manufacturer product analysis.
- Fees
- Sanitary registration and customs clearance fees set by SENASA/ARCA tariff schedules.
- Time to obtain
- Expedited to 48–72 hours for products originating from recognized countries (Annex III) submitting an Import Notice; 30–60 days for standard prior authorizations.
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Spirits typically require a National Food Product Register (Registro Nacional de Producto Alimenticio - RNPA) or, for imports from recognized high-standard jurisdictions (Annex III: EU, USA, UK, Canada,…
Import rules
Requires a registered local Importer of Record (IOR). No state import monopoly exists. Each consignment requires customs clearance via VUCEA/SIM and an electronic sanitary import notice/authorization. Tax control operates…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
20% ad valorem CIF under the Mercosur Common External Tariff (AEC) for most headings in HS 2208, plus a 3% Statistical Tax (Tasa de Estadística).
Excise and taxes
Value Added Tax (IVA) at 21% (plus advance import perceptions). Internal excise tax (Impuestos Internos under Ley 24.674): nominal rate of 26% for whisky, cognac, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, tequila, and spirits 30° ABV or higher;…
Retail and distribution
Private retail system; spirits are sold in supermarkets, liquor stores ('vinotecas'), grocery stores, convenience kiosks, restaurants, and bars. Sales to individuals under 18 years are strictly prohibited nationwide. Provincial…
Online sale and delivery
allowed
Labelling
Mandatory Spanish language (Spanish over-stickers permitted on imported bottles). Must state: product denomination per Argentine Food Code (CAA), brand, net quantity, ABV (% vol. at 20°C), country of origin, importer…
Advertising
Regulated under Ley 24.788 and Decree 149/2009. Prohibited from targeting minors, depicting under-18s drinking, or associating consumption with sports performance, driving, sexuality, violence, or success. Broadcast advertising…
Legal definitions of spirits
Argentine Food Code (CAA) Chapter XIV: Whisky must be distilled from cereal mash, matured in wood for at least 2 years, minimum 40% ABV; Gin must be flavored with juniper berries, minimum 35% to maximum 54% ABV; Vodka must be…
Dry or restricted areas
No dry municipalities or provinces exist. Temporary nationwide alcohol sales bans apply during electoral blackout periods ('veda electoral' under the Código Electoral Nacional, from 20:00 on the eve of elections until 3 hours…
Recent changes
Dismantling of discretionary import barriers (SIRA) and elimination of strict foreign-exchange rationing beginning in 2024, facilitating cross-border settlements. Dissolution of the federal tax agency AFIP and creation of the…
Opportunities for exporters
The elimination of import licensing bottlenecks and the introduction of fast-track recognition for EU, US, and UK sanitary certifications have dramatically lowered administrative hurdles for foreign distillers. Growing domestic…
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- Ley 24.788 - Lucha contra el Alcoholismo
- Ley 24.674 - Impuestos Internos
- Código Alimentario Argentino - Capítulo XIV Bebidas Espirituosas
- Decreto 35/2025 - Modificación Reglamentación Código Alimentario
- Decreto 697/2026 - Reorganización del Sistema Nacional de Control de Alimentos
- TTB International Trade Resources: Argentina
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