By Julio Martínez, International Trade graduate, and Graciela Alvarez Agudo, lawyer.AFIP General Resolution 5581/24. AFIP General Resolution 5582/2024
Customs Digitalization – Elimination of the Stamp Regime. Removal of Foreign Trade Restrictions – Criterion Values.
Argentina’s Customs has been implementing greater digitalization mechanisms framed within current parameters governing foreign and international trade. The challenge is not only internal but also extends beyond borders for the future.DNU 70/23 drives this transformation by stipulating that procedures, requests, and necessary processing for compliance with customs formalities, operations, or obligations, including import and export destinations, must be carried out using electronic information services.
Let’s recall that Resolution No. 2,522 (ANA 1/12/1987), its amendments and supplements, regulated the identification regime for certain goods – new or used – of foreign origin entering customs territory, through the application of customs fiscal stamps. In response to the current and new dynamics of international trade, AFIP General Resolution 5582/24 approved a new scheme for identifying goods supported by electronic means.
Thus, it seeks to modernize, simplify, and streamline customs procedures and processes, reducing operational costs with a view to greater fluidity and ease in commercial operations.
In brief summary:
- End of the Stamp Regime
AFIP General Resolution 5581/24 eliminates the Goods Identification Regime (Res. 2522/87), known as the “Stamp Regime”
This implies: The disappearance of the green customs stamp for products such as toys, perfumes, optics, textiles, electronics, among many others.
Advantages:
- Reduction of delays in the commercialization of imported products
- Elimination of extra costs for labor in stamping
- Simplification of the export process for previously imported goods that were stamped at the time of generating the export.
In replacement of the stamp system, the following is implemented:
- The Digital Product Identification System (SiDIP) for more efficient and modern control
- The identification of cell phones through the IMEI code (International Mobile Equipment Identity), established by AFIP General Resolution 5166/24
This allows the visualization of goods with their corresponding customs destination, favoring traceability, with more agile and secure controls regarding their information Elimination of Trade Barriers.
DNU No. 70/23 seeks to rebuild the economy through the elimination of state barriers and restrictions. Thus, it attempts to promote modifications that favor the fluidity of foreign trade, the customs clearance of goods, and the reduction of costs for importers in terms of value control, establishing that all operations go through the general rules of selectivity and moderating the impact of required guarantees.
In this framework, General Resolution 5582/2024 responds to these objectives as indicated in its recitals and, in accordance with technological advances, has decided to abrogate General Resolution No. 2,730/09 and its amendment, as well as any other rule that establishes precautionary import criterion values
In this sense, AFIP aims to take a significant step in simplifying and modernizing import operations.
In brief:
- Elimination of the Criterion Values Regime: AFIP General Resolution 5581/24 repeals Res. 2730/09 and its complementary norms, eliminating criterion values for goods such as textiles, footwear, tires, among others.
- Advantages:
- Eliminates the need to present precautionary guarantees for value differences
- Reduces operational overcosts and delays in guarantee returns
- Reduces operational costs, which will no longer be passed on to the consumer
The implementation of these new regulations could present some initial challenges for control bodies in applying the new mechanisms, as well as for those administered.
However, these obstacles should be gradually overcome, expecting future regulations to perfect the functioning of these systems. Despite these temporary difficulties, these measures represent a significant advance towards Trade Facilitation in international operations. They demonstrate the firm commitment of AFIP and the General Directorate of Customs to modernization, traceability, digitalization, and optimization of foreign trade processes.
A great step towards a more agile, less costly, and more efficient future international trade!
Source: Digital Trade and Law LATAM
Effective date: from 10/10/24