The emblem was chosen in a contest promoted by the Communications Directorates of the Presidencies of the Member States, in which 1,412 works were presented, with the winner being the Argentine designer Carlos Varau.

The approval of the winning design took place at the XI Meeting of the Common Market Council (CMC), held on December 16 and 17, 1996, in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

In accordance with this Decision, the symbols are in use in the states parties and related bodies and may be used without prior permission by individuals or national entities of the member states, always in a manner consistent with the objectives of Mercosur.

[2] The Mercosur Flag is made up of a white rectangle and above it has the Mercosur emblem that is composed of four blue stars located in a curved green line, representing the constellation of the southern transept that emerges from the horizon.

The four blue stars also represent the four founding countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.