According to the invention, .alpha.-chloracetoacetamides, which is to be understood as including both .alpha.-chloro-N-monoalkylacetoacetamides and .alpha.-chloro-N,N-dialkylacetoacetamides, the alkyl radicals of which contain 1 to 3 carbon atoms, are produced by reacting the corresponding acetoacetamides with chlorine in aqueous solution at temperatures in the range of from -1.degree. C. to -25.degree. C. At a conversion of at least 95%, a selectivity of at least 97% and a yield of at least 95% of the theoretical yield, calculated on reacted acetoacetamide, are obtained.