In brief
Through Resolution No. 283/2021 ("Resolution") the Labels and Tags Control System (SiFiRE, for its acronym in Spanish) was created under the scope of the Undersecretariat of Actions for the Defense of Consumers ("Undersecretariat") of the Secretariat of Domestic Trade, within the Ministry of Productive Development.
The SiFiRE will apply to new product labels and tags as from 30 April 2021.
In more detail
The Resolution's main purpose is to prevent any effect regarding the veracity or accuracy of the information contained in labels or tags, as well as to promote transparency and fair competition among the suppliers of goods and services in the domestic market.
Included products
The measure applies to all products belonging to the following categories: food, beverages, drinkable food, perfumery, grooming, personal care and household cleaning products, and others suitable for human consumption and handling, to be marketed in the territory of the Argentine Republic.
Inspection
All the labels and tags of the products covered by the Resolution will be supervised by the Undersecretariat and they must be approved by it prior to their commercialization in the Argentine Republic.
Through the platform 'Trámites a Distancia', the requested information regarding the label and the product will be uploaded and the Undersecretariat will have 10 administrative business days to analyze it, make additional requests for documentation and information or approve it. If after this period the Undersecretariat does not do any of this, the label will be understood as approved, with the related costs to be borne by the provider.
In case of noticing that the label or tag of an existing product in the market may constitute serious or irreparable damage to the rights of consumers in their consumption relationship, the Undersecretariat may order the supplier to place a sticker or any other means suitable to remedy it until the label is withdrawn from the market.
In addition, the Resolution prohibits the use of labels containing information on offers, promotions or discounts whose compliance cannot be guaranteed or assured by the manufacturer or importer in their subsequent commercialization, whether retail or wholesale.
Noncompliance
Failure to comply with the Resolution will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 24.240 on consumer protection and Executive Decree No. 274/19 on fair trade.
