The norm, in detail
Biotech patents: the 2015 restriction falls
INPI Res. 197/2026
in forceNATIONAL
Market deregulation
What changed and who it applies to
What changed
INPI Resolution 197/2026 repeals INPI Resolution 283/2015, which amended the patentability Guidelines (Res. 243/2003, Part C, Ch. IV) and restricted the patenting of living matter and biotechnological developments. With the repeal, Argentina returns to a biotechnological-patentability criterion aligned with international standards. It is the biotech-agri piece of a larger deregulatory package: in March 2026 the joint pharmaceutical-patenting guidelines had already been repealed (Joint Res. 118/2012, 546/2012 and 107/2012, via Joint Res. 1/2026). verif · Jun 19, 2026 ↗
In force
06/20/2026 (the day after publication in the Official Gazette of 06/19/2026). verif · Jun 20, 2026 ↗
Who it affects
Biotechnology developers (seed companies, agricultural biotech, laboratories) seeking to patent inventions on living matter in Argentina. It broadens patentable subject matter relative to the restrictive criterion in force since 2015. A tension point to watch without assuming bad faith: pharma/biotech patenting reopens the debate of patents vs. the local generics industry, outside the observatory's focus. verif · Jun 19, 2026 ↗
The norm
Resolución 197/2026 of the Instituto Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (INPI), signed on Jun 18, 2026 and published in the Boletín Oficial on Jun 19, 2026 (notice 343326). It repeals Resolución INPI 283/2015. verif · Jun 19, 2026 ↗
Our reading
Fewer barriers to biotechnological patentability: by repealing the 2015 restriction, Argentina aligns with international patent standards on living matter and improves the incentive to invest in innovation, especially in agriculture (rule R4, deregulation / legal security). The seed sector welcomed the measure as a pro-investment signal in biotechnology. thesis
Where it lands, province by province
Applies the same nationwide
We looked at this rule from each of the five provinces we track and found no effect that lands differently in any of them: it applies the same across the country.
The other rules on this subject36
The IGJ digitizes companies' financial statementsIGJ General Res. 9/2026 (RESOG-2026-9-APN-IGJ#MJ), Official Gazette Jul 2, 2026in force
Domestic trade: price-control and intervention rules fallRes. 12/2026 SIC (Official Gazette Jun 9, 2026)in force
Ley Hojarasca: cleanup of the legal framework (still in the Senate)Bill CD-1/26 (half-sanction May 20, 2026)pending
Ignacio Aredez· Chief analyst
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How to read the seals → verif primary source · prob primary source pending · unconf not sufficiently backed · estim our own calculation · thesis our reading