SUMMARY
South American republic bounded on the north by Bolivia, on the east by Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and Chile, and on the west by the Andes, which separate it from Chile. Member of Asociacion Latinamericana de Intergracion (ALADI).
Capital:
Buenos Aires.Port(s):
Buenos Aires.Population:
38,740,807 (July 2003 estimate).International Country Code:
AR.LANGUAGE(S)
Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Metric system.
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
220v. 50 cycles, AC.
CURRENCY(-IES)
1 Argentine peso (ARS) = 100 centavos.
EXCHANGE RATE
5.26721 ARS = £1 sterling (fluctuating rate).
INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DIALLING CODE(S)
00 54.
TIME
3 hours behind GMT (4 hours behind BST).
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1 Jan; 5 (Malvinas Day) April; 1 (Labour Day), 25 (National Day) May; 9 (Independence Day) July; 12 (Spanishness Day) Oct; 8 (Immaculate Conception), 25, 31 Dec; in addition, the following, which have variable dates: Holy Thursday; Good Friday; Easter; National Flag Day; St Martin’s Day.
EMBASSY(-IES)
65 Brook Street, London W1K 4AH. Tel: 020 7318 1300, fax: 020 7318 1301, e-mail: embar@btclick.com — website: www.argentine-embassy-uk.org (Link to an external site - Disclaimer 
) (under construction).
) (under construction). Commercial section: 4th Floor, 65 Brook Street, London W1K 4AH. Tel: 020 7318 1330, fax: 020 7318 1331.
Consular section: 27 Three Kings Yard, London W1Y 1FL. Tel: 020 7318 1340, fax: 020 7318 1349.
BRITISH EMBASSY
Dr Luis Agote 2412/52, (C1425 EOF), Buenos Aires. Tel: 00 54 11 4808 2200, 00 54 11 4803 7799, fax: 00 54 11 4808 2274, website: www.britain.org.ar (Link to an external site - Disclaimer )
)CHAMBER(S) OF COMMERCE
British-Argentine Chamber of Commerce (BACC): 65 Brook Street, London W1K4AH. Tel: 020 7495 8730, fax: 020 7495 8732, e-mail: enquiries@bacc.newnet.co.uk
Anglo–Argentine Chamber of Commerce: Av Corrientes 457, C1043AAE, Buenos Aires. Tel: 00 54 11 4394 3762, fax: 00 54 11 4326 3860.
Argentine Chamber of Commerce: Avda L N Alem 36, Piso 10, C1003AAN, Buenos Aires. Tel: 00 54 11 4394 4351, fax: 00 54 11 4328 1003, website: www.cac.com.ar (Link to an external site - Disclaimer )
)IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
Import licences are required for many items. As the position might change at short notice, checks should be made with importers. Imports of used or reconditioned machinery must adhere to strict controls and require a certificate from the original manufacturer. Imports of used cars and agricultural machinery, second-hand clothing, toxic waste and reconditioned tyres are banned. Foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and veterinary, medical, cleaning and personal-hygiene products must be registered with the Argentine Health Authorities by a fully licensed importer. Temporary imports and samples of these products also require special import licences.
EXCHANGE CONTROL
None.
BILL(S) OF LADING
Three originals plus copies as required. Must bear the name of shipper and be signed by him or his agent. Give accurate and detailed description of goods and either weight or volume, whichever is the basis of freight assessment. Shippers of chemical products must show the exact technical description and IMCO class number. Show whether freight prepaid or payable at destination. May be made out “to order”, except for perishable goods. Alterations are not allowed.
CONSULAR INVOICE(S)
None.
CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
Usually not required unless requested by the importer or under the L/C terms. If requested then a normal EC Certificate of Origin obtained from an authorised Chamber of Commerce is acceptable (see Where to Obtain Certificates of Origin under Certificates of Origin in the documentation section). Enquiries can be directed to the Argentina desk at the Trade Partners UK, tel: 020 7215 4755. Must be legalised by the Argentine Consulate at the Argentina Embassy, 27 Three Kings Yard, London W1Y 1FL. Tel: 020 7318 1340, fax: 020 7318 1349 (see Consular Fees below).
COMMERCIAL INVOICES
Original and three copies in Spanish, all bearing the following signed declaration:
Declaration:
Declaro bajo juramento que la informacion contenida en esta factura es exacta y que el precio indicado es el unico que realmente ha sido pagado (o ha de pagarse). Tambien declaro en igual forma que no existen convenios que permitan modificacion de dicho precio.
.......................................................– (signature)
Translation:
I declare under oath that all the information contained in this invoice is true and correct and that the price indicated is that really paid (or to be paid). I further declare that there are no agreements to allow alteration in said price.
Show number and date of invoice, name/address of consignee, country of origin, kind, quality, quantity, net FOB value of goods, gross, legal and net weights in kilos of each package, details of freight, and other expenses (if any); name of vessel and port of shipment and destination. Shippers of chemical products must show the exact technical, description and IMCO class number. Invoices must be countersigned by an authorised Chamber of Commerce (which requires an extra copy; see Where to Obtain Certificates of Origin under Certificates of Origin in Documents).
Facsimile signatures are not accepted by Customs. The invoice should also be accompanied by a packing list in English, Spanish, French or Italian showing full weights and with the following declaration: “We swear that all the information contained in this packing list is true and correct”.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATE(S)
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1.
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Sanitary certificates issued by an official authority and legalised by Consulate must accompany shipments of livestock, plants and seeds, grain, fruit, vegetables and certain foodstuffs. A Certificate of Age may be required for spirits.
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2.
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Foodstuffs including samples require phytosanitary certificates.
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3.
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Pre-shipment inspection is not required for all goods but under the consumer protection law (law 24.240), the Argentina state shall guarantee the quality and security criteria for those consumer goods traded in the local market. As such there are mandatory regulations covered by various resolutions for toy, container, cement, electrical, steel, footwear, paper, gas equipment, home appliances, lifts and personal safety. It should be noted that any Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) information listed reflects the position as at the time of going to press. The situation can change and subscribers should check with customers or the PSI company named here to see if the situation has changed.
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Certification Bodies are accredited by the Argentine Accreditation Organisation (OAA). These are currently the Instituto de Racionalizacion Argentino (IRAM), Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Industrial (INTI), Instituto del Gas Argentino (IGA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Bureau Veritas Argentina, TUV Rheinland Argentina and IQC. These bodies are accredited to issue certificates of compliance to Argentinian standards for defined products.
Certification may be performed on arrival in Argentina or prior to shipment in the country of supply.
This service can be provided by SGS United Kingdom, working with the accredited body INTI.
Exporters of consumer products may be required to provide a Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) certifying that their goods may lawfully be sold in the UK. This CFS can be provided free of charge by the DTI. Contact Trade Facilitation & Import Policy Directorate, Billingham. Tel: 01642 362307. For further information: contact SGS United Kingdom Ltd on their Exporter Helpdesk on 01276 697890, e-mail gbgtssgs@sgsgroup.com
INSURANCE
Must be effected in Argentina when the transport risk is for account of the consignee.
CONSULAR FEE(S)
Certificate of origin costs about £26.
MARKING OF GOODS
Country of origin must be prominently shown on containers, labels, and on the objects themselves preferably in Spanish, but well-known expressions such as “Made in UK” are accepted. Quality, quantity, metric measurement of net weight of contents must also be indicated. Special labelling regulations apply to cloth used for making garments, leather goods, preserved foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products, disinfectants, insecticides, etc. Also, check with the Argentina Desk at Trade Partners UK (tel: 020 7215 4755) or Technical Help for Exporters (tel: 020 8996 9000).
PACKING MATERIAL
No maize or sorghum straw permitted.
PACKING LIST
Required in English, Spanish, French or Italian showing net, legal and gross weights and bearing the signed declaration:
Weights, values and volumes, etc where expressed on various shipping documentation must be consistent.
MARKING OF CASES
Brush or stencil; marks, numbers, gross and net weight in kilos, country of origin and name of carrying vessel on at least two sides (not top or bottom). Repetition of numbers on packages shipped under one B/L prohibited.
SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS
Mercotainer Line; CSAV; Grimaldi Lines; P&O Nedlloyd; Contship Containerlines; Hamburg Sud; Mediterranean Shipping Company; Safmarine Container Line; CMA/CGM; Alianca.
AIR FREIGHT
British Airways World Cargo.
SAMPLES
No permitted entry by sea or by air without using Customs brokers. Genuine Commercial Samples valued below $1000.00 are admitted duty free and should be marked Muestras sin valor commercial (sample with no commercial value). Samples having a commercial value are subject to normal duties. Dutiable samples may be imported on a temporary basis subject to guarantee. Samples of value should not be sent unless requested by the importer as a temporary import permit is required signed by the local importer, the Customs broker and an insurance company..
BANK(S)
Banco de la Nacion Argentina; American Express Bank; Banco Creditanstalt; Citibank; Banco Central de la Republica Argentina; Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Banco de Estado de Sao Paulo; Banco Sudameris Argentina; Banco Europeo para America Latina; ABN-AMRO Bank; Banco Nagionale del Lavoro; Banco Bica; Banco Bisel; Banco de Galicia; Banco Mayo; Banco Frances del Rio de la Plaka; Banco General de Negocios; Banco Mercantil; Banco Quilmes; Banco Rio de la Plata; Bansud; Standard Chartered.
DUTIES
Assessed at ad valorem on the cif value. Tariff is based on the Harmonised System (HS) (see Customs Nomenclatures). Information on the standard rates of Customs duty and taxes can be found on the EU Market Access Database page “Applied Tariffs Database”, at: http://mkaccbd.eu.int. (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ) Argentina is a member of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Spanish speakers can find additional information via the WCO website, at: www.wcoomd.org. (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ) Argentina is one of the members of the Mercosur Customs Union along with Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In addition to import duty, a statistical tax of 0.5% of cif value is levied on imports from non-Mercosur countries though it does not apply to capital goods, IT and telecommunications equipment. VAT (IVA) of 21% is also applicable. Importers may also be subject to a 3% withholding tax on anticipated profits and an additional 10% VAT advanced payment.
) Argentina is a member of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Spanish speakers can find additional information via the WCO website, at: www.wcoomd.org. (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ) Argentina is one of the members of the Mercosur Customs Union along with Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In addition to import duty, a statistical tax of 0.5% of cif value is levied on imports from non-Mercosur countries though it does not apply to capital goods, IT and telecommunications equipment. VAT (IVA) of 21% is also applicable. Importers may also be subject to a 3% withholding tax on anticipated profits and an additional 10% VAT advanced payment.UK REGULATIONS
All goods must be declared to Customs on leaving the EC (generally arranged by the freight forwarder/carrier). The export declaration for shipments leaving the EC from a UK port or airport is via the electronic system known as NES. All goods subject to Export Controls (ie covered by an export licence — SIEL, OGEL or OIEL), coming under CAP regulations or otherwise controlled under Customs regulations (eg under IPR/OPR, etc) must be exported with a full declaration unless the shipper is authorised to use one of the simplified NES procedures. All shipments must be given a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) made up of the shipper’s VAT No., TURN and export reference, eg invoice number.
Export Controls: Certain classes of goods are controlled under national and EU regulations. Examples are military goods and dual-use technology. These are listed on website: www.dti.gov.uk (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ) under Export Control. Other goods not listed in the statutory instruments may be controlled if their end-use involves chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the means of delivering them. It is recommended that subscribers seek advice from the DTI Export Control Organisation Helpline on: 020 7215 8070.
) under Export Control. Other goods not listed in the statutory instruments may be controlled if their end-use involves chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the means of delivering them. It is recommended that subscribers seek advice from the DTI Export Control Organisation Helpline on: 020 7215 8070.Ocean International Freight Services Ltd
International Forwarders
Martin Nicholson
01489 578222
01489 578333
info@oceaninternational.com
www.oceaninternational.com
Unit 4, Swanwick Business Park, Bridge Road, Southampton S031 7GB
Buenos Aires
Weekly
This information was taken from Croner's Reference Book for Exporters.
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