G/LIC/N/3/ARG/12  
11 November  2016 
(16-6210) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  Spanish  
 
  REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE  AGREEMENT  
ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION FOR 2016  
ARGENTINA  
The following communication, dated 9 November  2016, is being circulated at the reques t of the 
delegation of Argentina.  
 
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Outline of systems  
1. Argentina currently has two types of import licensing regime , one automatic and the other 
non-automatic , both of which are  established under  Ministry of Production Resolution No. 5/2015, 
as amended by Secretariat for Trade Resolutions No. 2/2016, No. 32/2016, No. 114/2016, 
No. 172/2016, No. 264/2016 and No. 301/2016 . 
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
2. Goods classified under all MERCOSUR Common Nomenclature (NCM) tariff headings a nd 
intended for definitive entry for consumption are subject to automatic import licensing , with the 
exception of those listed in Annexes II to XVII to Ministry of Production Resolution No. 5/2015 , as 
clarified and amended by Secretariat for Trade Resoluti ons No. 2/2016, No. 32/2016, 
No. 114/2016, No. 172/2016, No. 264/2016 and No. 301/2016 , which  are subject to 
non-automatic import licensing. 
 
3. Both types of licence  apply  to goods of all origins , without distinction . 
 
4. The import  licensing is not inten ded to restrict either the quantity or the value of imports . 
 
The purpose of the  automatic licen sing regime is to obtain an advance supply of descriptive 
statistical information for the historical records . 
 
The purpose of the non-automatic licensing  regime  is to establish an appropriate prior verification 
system for ensuring compliance with the conditions governing the importation of goods , in 
accordance with the provisions of Annexes  II to XVII to Ministry of Production Resolution 
No. 5/2015 , as amended by  Secretariat for Trade  Resolutions No. 2/2016, No. 32/2016, 
No. 114/2016 , No. 172/2016, No. 264/2016 and No. 301/2016.  
 
The Government of Argentina, a fter examining other possible option s, consider s this system to be 
the most appropriate  for achieving  the above -mentioned objectives . 
 G/LIC/N/3/ARG/12  
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  5. Argentina's import licensing regime  is maintained under the following  statutory provisions : 
 
- Ministry of Production Resolution No. 5/2015 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 22 December  2015; 
 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 2/2016 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 8 January  2016; 
 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 32/2016 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 14 March  2016; 
 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 114/2016 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 1 June 2016; 
 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 172/2016 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 5 July 2016; 
 
- Secre tariat for Trade Resolution No. 264/2016 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 9 September  2016; 
 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 301/2016 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 21 October  2016. 
 
The executive branch does not need legislative approval to abolish the licensing regime . 
 
Procedures  
6.I.-XI. Not applicable . The import licensing regime  established  pursuant to  the above -mentioned  
resolutions  is not subject to quotas . 
 
7.(a)(b) Licence s must be presented  before the goods are cleared . The time -limits for obtaining 
licences  meet the requirements laid down in the regulations in force and fall within the  
maximum periods stipulated in Article 2.2(a)(iii), for automatic licensing, and Article 3.5( f), 
for non -automatic licensing, of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures . 
 
(c) There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which a licence application 
and/or importation may be made.  
 
(d) Pursuant to  Resolution No. 5/2015, the Secretariat for Trade, attached to the Ministry of 
Production , is the  authority responsible for implementing the import licensing regime  and 
may, at any time during the procedure , request  the involvement of competent technical 
bodies , in accordance with Articl e 5 of the said Resolution . 
 
 Importers submitting applications for automatic import licences are required to use the 
Comprehensive Import Monitoring System (SIMI)1, as approved by General Resolution 
No. 3.823 of 2 1 December  2015 of the Federal Public Reve nue Administration (AFIP)2, and 
to provide the information specified in Annex I to Ministry  of Production Resolution 
No. 5/2015, as clarified and amended by Secretariat for Trade  Resolutions No. 2/2016, 
No. 32/2016, No. 114/2016 , No. 172/2016, No. 264/2016  and No. 301/2016.  
 
To obtain a non -automatic licence, importers are first of all required to complete the automatic 
licensing procedure . They must then, within ten (10) working days, access the AFIP website 
(http://www.afip.gob.ar/sitio/externos/default.asp ), by entering their individual tax identification 
number ( Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria , CUIT) and password ( clave fiscal ), and use the 
interactive service " SC-Solicitud de cont acto" (contact request) to provide the information specified 
in point 2 of Annexes II to XVII to Ministry of Production Resolution No. 5/2015, depending on the 
goods concerned . 
 
                                                
1 Further information is available at http://www.afip.gob.ar/simi . 
2 The text of the Resolution is available for consultation at 
http://www.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInt ernet/anexos/255000 -259999/257180/norma.htm . G/LIC/N/3/ARG/12  
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  If the service " SC-Solicitud de contacto " is not enabled, the importer should select the option 
"Administrador de relaciones con clave fiscal " (administrator with password) and click either on 
"Adherir servicio " (register for a service) or, if he wishes to authorize a third party to manage the 
application process, on " Nueva relación " (new authorization) . He should then click on the logo of 
the "Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas Públicas " (Ministry of the Economy and Public Finance), 
then on " Servicios interactivos " (interactive services) and finally on " SC-Solicitud de contacto " 
(contact request) . 
 
8. The only reason for refusal is failure by applicant s to meet the requirements set forth in  the 
relevant regulations . Applicants are duly informed  of the reason s for any refusal . All applicants 
have the right to plead an excuse  before  the assessment body . 
 
Eligibility of  importers to apply for licence  
9. All persons, firms and institutions engaged in import activities  and entered  as such in the  AFIP 
Register of Importers are eligible to apply for import licences.  
 
Documentation al and other  requirements for application for licence  
10.-11. All the informatio n that importers are required to  provide  for import licence applications is 
set out in  Ministry of Production Resolution No. 5/2015 . The required forms and documents are 
available at http://www.afip.gob.ar/simi . 
 
12. Import licences  are processed free of charge . 
 
13. There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of import 
licences . 
 
Conditions of licensing  
14. Licences are valid for one hundred  and eighty  (180) calendar days from the date of their 
approval in  the Comprehensive Import Monitoring System (SIMI) . They may not be extended . 
 
15. There are no penalties for the non -utilization of a licence or portion of a lic ence. 
 
16. Import licences are non -transferable . 
 
17.(a)  Not applicable . 
 
(b)  No, only the requirements set forth in the regulations in force . 
 
Other procedural requirements  
18. Certificat es of compliance or exemption certificate s, as appropriate , must be  obtained in 
advance via the Integrated Foreign Trade System (SISCO ) for goods covered by Resolution 
No. 220/2003 (and the amendments and regulations thereto) and Resolution No. 153/2005 
(and the amendments thereto)  of the former Secretariat of Industry, T rade and Small and 
Medium -Sized Enterprises of the former Ministry of Economy and Production . 
 
19. There is no  relation  between the  import licensing regime  and the  foreign currency exchange 
system . 
 
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