Argentina dissolves National Food Institute, shifts control to SENASA

Argentina Instituto Nacional de Alimentos SENASA food safety Código Alimentario

Through Decree 697/2026 published in the official gazette, the Argentine government dissolved the Instituto Nacional de Alimentos (INAL). All registration, inspection and control duties for food products were transferred to the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA). The Ministry of Health was assigned the policy‑making role for nutrition, with an initial focus on removing synthetic colourants and flavourings from processed foods.

The decree also amended the Código Alimentario Argentino, setting a first‑time maximum 45‑day deadline for updates and recognizing foreign sanitary certifications—including those for additives, ingredients and other industrial inputs—when they meet Codex Alimentarius standards. A unified database will be managed by SENASA to improve traceability of establishments and products. Additionally, the requirement to renew food‑handler cards every three years was removed, making the certification permanent.

These changes aim to simplify regulatory procedures, eliminate duplicated controls, and accelerate the import of packaged foods while maintaining safety standards.

Entities

Codex Alimentarius · Código Alimentario Argentino · Instituto Nacional de Alimentos (INAL) · Javier Milei · Ministerio de Salud de la Nación · Ministry of Health of Argentina · Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 6 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health will concentrate on policy-making for nutrition and food composition. www.cronica.com.ar · estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · agronoa.com.ar · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The first policy priority is to eliminate synthetic colourants and flavourings from processed foods. www.cronica.com.ar · estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · agronoa.com.ar · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The requirement to renew food‑handler cards every three years was eliminated, making them valid indefinitely. www.eldia.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The decree extended recognition of foreign sanitary certifications to food additives, ingredients and other industrial inputs that meet Codex Alimentarius standards. estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · economiasustentable.com · spnoticias.com.ar
[● 6 SOURCES] The registration, control and inspection functions for food were transferred to the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA). www.cronica.com.ar · estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · agronoa.com.ar · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The Código Alimentario Argentino was amended, establishing a maximum 45‑day deadline for updates. www.cronica.com.ar · estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · agronoa.com.ar · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] A unified database will be managed by SENASA for traceability of establishments and products. www.cronica.com.ar · estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · agronoa.com.ar
[● 6 SOURCES] Decree 697/2026 dissolved the Instituto Nacional de Alimentos (INAL). www.cronica.com.ar · estaciondelvalle963.com.ar · agronoa.com.ar · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · +1 more