The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) announces Decree 790/2025, which updates and amends Decree No. 1812/92 and joins the reforms implemented by this administration thru Decree No. 35/25, which introduced changes to the historic Decree No. 2126/71.

These updates aim for a more modern, agile, and less bureaucratic public administration, aligned with international health surveillance standards.

Among the most relevant novelties, the possibility of expanding the list of recognized countries stands out, based on reciprocity agreements or economic integration treaties.

Likewise, obsolete articles containing redundant provisions on product stability are repealed, and the powers of this National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT), thru the National Food Institute (INAL), are consolidated as the authority responsible for the registration and authorization of imported packaged foods, and those of the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (SENASA) in matters under its jurisdiction.

In this way, the new decree promotes a series of structural transformations in the food control system:

• Simplification of procedures: Procedures for packaged food products intended for direct sale to the public are optimized, in line with the changes already introduced by Decree 35/25. Reforms are also being promoted by SENASA.

• International recognition: The validity of health certificates issued by high-surveillance countries, such as the United States, Canada, the European Union, Japan, and Australia, among others, which had already been introduced by Decree 35/25, is reaffirmed.

• Reduction of processing times: Inspection and release times for goods are shortened, thanks to the import authorization and notification system interoperating with the Customs Revenue and Control Agency (ARCA) thru the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE).

Furthermore, inter-institutional coordination between ANMAT and SENASA—key technical agencies in health oversight and control—is strengthened, with a special focus on ex-post supervision by INAL.

With these reforms, the Government seeks to consolidate a more dynamic, reliable food system aligned with international best practices, reaffirming its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring institutional efficiency.

As part of efforts to improve the quality of life of MERCOSUR residents, work is underway to approve a Regional Front-of-Pack Labeling Law. This project, led by Mercosur parliamentarian Matías Sotomayor, seeks to implement a common system that enables consumers to make more informed decisions about the foods they consume, thereby promoting healthier, more conscious, and sovereign eating.

Protocol 000358/2025 – NPr 358-2025 PDE 92/2025 PDecl., entitled “Promotion of a Regional Front-of-Pack Labeling Law in MERCOSUR,” represents a significant step toward regional integration in public health. The implementation of this regulation will require coordinated efforts among governments, academic institutions, social organizations, and the private sector. However, the potential benefits for the population far outweigh the challenges.

The initiative is backed by the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Practice in Nutrition and Health (COLANSA in Spanish), universities, and social organizations that have worked together to develop regulations based on scientific evidence and principles of social justice. The objective is to ensure that food products include clear, visible labels that warn about excessive levels of sugars, saturated fats, sodium, and calories. This will allow consumers to easily identify products that could pose a risk to their health.