Law 27,196, which was introduced on November 18 2015, has made the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease and access to gluten-free food a matter of national interest. The Ministry of Health is required to check and determine the amount of gluten included in food products containing wheat, oats and barley. Labels must indicate whether food products are gluten free. Article 4 of the law sets out the institutions that must offer at least one gluten-free food item, which includes airlines.

If the airline fails to comply with these requirements it can be fined and its services suspended; however, it will have a right to defence.

It is unclear whether the law applies to Argentine domestic carriers only, but it appears that if a passenger requests a gluten free meal when he or she makes a booking, it must be supplied if the flight departs from Argentina. Otherwise, the applicability of the law appears to go beyond of the scope of Argentine jurisdiction.

For further information on this topic please contact Elizabeth Mireya Freidenberg at Freidenberg Freidenberg & Lifsic by telephone (+54 11 4311 4991) or email ([email protected]).

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