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This report includes technical requirements and export certificates for the export of food and agricultural products to Argentina. It complements the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Annual Country 2022 Report.

This report is an overview and an update on regulations and standards for importing U.S. food and beverage products to Argentina. Post recommends U.S. suppliers interested in the Argentine market contact our office or local importers to discuss the rules and regulations applicable to import requirements for specific products.

The Government of Argentina (GOA) approved two new genetically engineered (GE) events in 2022 (one soybean and one maize). In November 2021, Brazil's regulatory agency approved the commercialization of wheat flour containing the HB4 drought tolerance event grown in Argentina. As a result of this approval by Argentina’s most important export market for wheat, the GOA granted full approval for seed commercialization.

In 2021, Spain imported $1.7 billion of agricultural and related products from the United States. Outside the European Union Member States, the United States was the fifth largest origin of Spanish agricultural and related imports. After the deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain’s economy is starting to recover, supported by improving domestic demand and a strong rebound of the hotel and restaurant industry as tourism returns to pre-pandemic levels.

This report focuses on specific Spanish certification requirements that differ from or are in addition to EU-harmonized certification. Compared to 2021, this report contains new country-specific certificates as well as updated links to relevant information sources and contacts.

This report is an update of GAIN report SP2021-0032. It outlines the legislation applicable to the export of U.S. food products to Spain, particularly focusing on those rules that differ from EU legislation.

This report describes the agricultural biotechnology sector in Spain, covering production and trade, policy, and marketing aspects. It includes topics related to plant, animal, and microbial biotechnology. Spain is a powerhouse for agricultural biotechnology in the European Union, as the country remains the largest grower of biotech corn and a major consumer of feed ingredients.

Due to dry conditions, Argentine wheat production for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is forecast down at 15.5 million metric tons (MMT), 2 MMT lower than the official USDA estimate. As a consequence wheat exports are lowered to 10 MMT. Barley exports for MY 2022/23 are also forecast down at 3 MMT, 500,000 MT lower than official USDA projection as result of lower production and slower farmer selling.

Irrigation water limitations in the Guadalquivir basin resulted in lower area planted to cotton for MY 2022/23 and a significant drop in yields. Cotton production has also been negatively affected by pest incidence. Industry sources argue that Spanish farmers should be eligible for cotton specific support despite the reduction in yields.

2022 Argentine dairy production is projected at the same level with respect to 2021 or with a drop of less than one percent year-on-year to 11.495,000 MT, due to abnormally dry and warm weather during the first half of the year which is expected to continue until the end of the year. Post forecasts Whole Milk Powder (WMP) production to rise to 245,000 MT in a recessionary domestic market with stable production compared to 2021, which would result in a higher export balance.

According to the Argentine government, farmers sold a record volume of soybeans, more than 13.7 million metric tons (MMT) in September, after the government offered a special exchange rate for producers. As a result, exporters booked nearly 4 MMT in export declarations, with China as the principal destination.

Spanish tourism is rapidly recovering from the effects of the pandemic and reaching pre-pandemic levels due to a robust rebound in national tourism, partially compensating for the still lower number of foreign visitors. From January through August, 57.3 million tourists arrived in Spain, 10 percent higher than the previous year.