Argentina Attorney General rejects government appeal on pharmacy deregulation

The Argentine Attorney General's Office (Procuración General de la Nación) has ruled that the national government's extraordinary appeal is inadmissible. This decision upholds a previous suspension of specific articles within Decree 70/2023 that sought to deregulate the pharmaceutical sector.

As a result, the legal requirement for professional pharmaceutical technical directors remains mandatory for pharmacies, drugstores, and herbalist shops. The ruling also maintains the rule of exclusivity, preventing a single pharmacist from serving as the technical director for multiple pharmacies.

The dispute stems from an injunction filed by the Argentine Union of Pharmacists and Biochemists (SAFYB), led by Marcelo Peretta. The union challenged the government's attempt to modify Law 17.565, arguing that the proposed deregulation would compromise professional standards and operational conditions.