Argentine courts rule on school nutrition and biometric controls

In Argentina, two separate judicial rulings have addressed provincial administrative policies.

In Entre Ríos, the Superior Tribunal of Justice ruled on a legal challenge regarding the school meal system. The court partially granted an appeal by parents, AGMER, and the CAUCE Foundation, stating that the province must ensure school breakfasts and snacks meet healthy eating standards established by Provincial Law 10.594. The ruling clarifies that the obligation goes beyond merely excluding products with warning labels; it requires adherence to nutritional composition standards. However, the court maintained that the Executive Branch retains the authority to determine the technical and organizational methods for implementation.

In Río Negro, the judiciary rejected an injunction filed by the UPCN union against the implementation of a facial biometric attendance system for Ministry of Health workers. The court in Viedma ruled that the union failed to prove concrete harm or illegal conduct by the province. The ruling noted that the system does not store actual photographs but rather mathematical facial traits. The court also emphasized that the state has the authority to implement attendance controls as an employer and that biometric data, including fingerprints, is subject to similar regulatory frameworks.