uruguay.uy
Acceder a VUI

Food

Uruguay is an internationally recognized supplier to the most demanding global markets, producing food for over 30 million people and with the capacity to do so for another 20 million more, based on safe and sustainable production under strict sanitary controls.

Start doing business in Uruguay​

Opening
a Company

Environmental
management

Building works
and transport

Connection
to services

Sector specific
procedures

Trademarks
and patents

Hiring
of personnel

Opening a Company

Environmental management

Building works and transport

Connection to services

Sector specific procedures

Trademarks and patents

Hiring of personnel

Food specific procedures

This is the process through which all necessary authorizations are obtained for the settlement of a company that produces and commercializes industrial food products in Uruguayan territory. This encompasses food processing establishments (that sell to third parties, with or without on-site sales), factories, industrial fractioning and catering companies.
This is the procedure through which the Department of Sanitary Control of Dairy Products (DCSL) of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) authorizes, from a health and hygiene perspective, the facilities that receive, standardize, treat and transform milk and dairy products.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.
The management that must be carried out in order to produce, transform and commercialize fishery products.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.
This application is required in order to initiate the approval process for a new facility or for the renovation and/or expansion of a previously approved facility by the Division of Industrial Livestock. This preliminary project is studied by the INAC in terms of the technical aspects of industrial, civil, construction and process engineering and then by the Licensing Department of the Division of Industrial Livestock (DIA) for the health and sanitation aspects.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.
In order to register a winery or cider mill, it is necessary to apply at the National Institute of Viticulture (INAVI).
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
The Health and sanitation approval is issued by the Environmental and Occupational Health Division to all companies, commercial and industrial premises in the country, in accordance with Decree 284/74 and Decree 406/88.
Health & Hygiene Clearance
Food science Authorization by the local government

Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.

Application with ANCAP
For industrial plants that aim to process alcoholic beverages, the registration process must be carried out in ANCAP’s Companies Registry.
The process by which a food product is cleared for commercialization. The entities where products must be registered depend on the nature of the product. It should be noted that the product should be registered at each of the local municipalities where it will be commercialized.
The study and further approval for registration of meat products to be manufactured in facilities authorized by the Licensing Department of the Division of Industrial Livestock (DIA), Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP). Every time meat products will be manufactured in a facility authorized by the Licensing Department of the Division of Industrial Livestock.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE

Registration and authorization of national and imported food manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.

 

The mandatory procedure that every legal entity must undergo in order to obtain the registration, renewal of registration and sale authorization for modified food, salt, water and baby formula and foods for special purposes.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.

Common food (not modified according to the above definition) that have non nutritional sweeteners shall be registered solely with the appropriate authority.
A previous evaluation of said food will be carried out by the Food Department of the MSP.

CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destines for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.
Beverages and juices that contain non nutritional sweeteners and don’t have added nutrients, shall be registered only by the corresponding department. They will be previously evaluated by the Food Department of the MSP.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.
Registration before ANCAP

In order to apply for the Product Registration, samples must be submitted for analysis in order to verify that the products comply with the relevant specifications.

Said registration is made before ANCAP (National Administration of Fuel, Alcohol and Portland)

Registration before Local Government Office

Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.

 

This is a course that all company employees that have any contact with food, be it operationally or in the planning must take part in, and take a test on in order to obtain the “Food Handling Approval Certificate” (formerly the Food Handling Card) in the categories of transporter, delivery, operator and decision maker.
MORE INFORMATION
Industry Permit
This is the process through which all necessary authorizations are obtained for the settlement of a company that produces and commercializes industrial food products in Uruguayan territory. This encompasses food processing establishments (that sell to third parties, with or without on-site sales), factories, industrial fractioning and catering companies.
Dairy Industry
This is the procedure through which the Department of Sanitary Control of Dairy Products (DCSL) of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) authorizes, from a health and hygiene perspective, the facilities that receive, standardize, treat and transform milk and dairy products.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.
Fishing Industry
The management that must be carried out in order to produce, transform and commercialize fishery products.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.
Meat Industry
This application is required in order to initiate the approval process for a new facility or for the renovation and/or expansion of a previously approved facility by the Division of Industrial Livestock. This preliminary project is studied by the INAC in terms of the technical aspects of industrial, civil, construction and process engineering and then by the Licensing Department of the Division of Industrial Livestock (DIA) for the health and sanitation aspects.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.
Wineries
In order to register a winery or cider mill, it is necessary to apply at the National Institute of Viticulture (INAVI).
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
The Health and sanitation approval is issued by the Environmental and Occupational Health Division to all companies, commercial and industrial premises in the country, in accordance with Decree 284/74 and Decree 406/88.
Health & Hygiene Clearance
Processing of alcoholic beverages
Food science Authorization by the local government

Obtaining the food science authorization by the local government where the facility is located is a requirement.

Application with ANCAP
For industrial plants that aim to process alcoholic beverages, the registration process must be carried out in ANCAP’s Companies Registry.
Product Registration
The process by which a food product is cleared for commercialization. The entities where products must be registered depend on the nature of the product. It should be noted that the product should be registered at each of the local municipalities where it will be commercialized.
Meat or egg products
The study and further approval for registration of meat products to be manufactured in facilities authorized by the Licensing Department of the Division of Industrial Livestock (DIA), Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP). Every time meat products will be manufactured in a facility authorized by the Licensing Department of the Division of Industrial Livestock.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE

Registration and authorization of national and imported food manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.

 

Modified food and dietary supplements
The mandatory procedure that every legal entity must undergo in order to obtain the registration, renewal of registration and sale authorization for modified food, salt, water and baby formula and foods for special purposes.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.
Foods with non-nutritional sweeteners

Common food (not modified according to the above definition) that have non nutritional sweeteners shall be registered solely with the appropriate authority.
A previous evaluation of said food will be carried out by the Food Department of the MSP.

CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destines for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.
Beverages and juices with non-nutritional sweeteners
Beverages and juices that contain non nutritional sweeteners and don’t have added nutrients, shall be registered only by the corresponding department. They will be previously evaluated by the Food Department of the MSP.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.
Alcoholic Beverages
Registration before ANCAP

In order to apply for the Product Registration, samples must be submitted for analysis in order to verify that the products comply with the relevant specifications.

Said registration is made before ANCAP (National Administration of Fuel, Alcohol and Portland)

Registration before Local Government Office

Registration and authorization of national and imported food, manufactured, transported or commercialized and destined for sale or consumption of the population of the department where the application has been made.

 

Food Handling course
This is a course that all company employees that have any contact with food, be it operationally or in the planning must take part in, and take a test on in order to obtain the “Food Handling Approval Certificate” (formerly the Food Handling Card) in the categories of transporter, delivery, operator and decision maker.
MORE INFORMATION