New Bill on Indications and Appellations of Origin

On June 10, 2025, a bill was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies to amend Law 25380, which regulates geographical indications and designations of origin of agricultural and food products in Argentina. The Bill seeks to incorporate regional economies into the legal system governing geographical indications, to encourage production, preserve cultural identity, and enhance market competitiveness.

The Bill defines regional economies as productive systems developed outside the Pampa Humeda, characterized by the integration of natural resources, local expertise, and traditional practices. These economies differ from the predominant model in the Pampa region in terms of cost structures, marketing formats, and target markets.

The key changes proposed are:

1. Amendment to article 2:
the Bill explicitly includes regional economies within the scope of the law, alongside the existing definitions of geographical indication and designation of origin.

2. Introduction of article 4 bis:
This new provision would require the relevant authority to recognize, protect, and promote regional economies as part of the geographical indications and designations of origin system. It also outlines five main principles:

• Productive diversity: to promote agricultural, livestock, forestry, industrial, and artisanal production that reflects the unique identity of each region.
• Local value-added: to encourage processing and commercialization at the place of origin.
• Protection of cultural identity: to safeguard traditional techniques and ancestral knowledge.
• Environmental and social sustainability: to foster responsible production practices.
• Market access and financing: to develop support tools for regional producers to enhance competitiveness.

Lastly, the bill acknowledges that regional economies are essential to Argentina’s federal development model. Including these economies within the certification framework would:

• provide differentiation tools and improve access to international markets,
• protect the cultural and productive heritage of each region,
• boost local employment, strengthen community ties, and promote value-added at origin,
• support a more balanced and inclusive federal development strategy.