Costa Rica

Agreement in force · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05

25 screening rules

Labeling: 11 rules — 9 blocking, 2 conditional, 0 advisory
Additives: 3 rules — 3 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Contaminants & residue limits: 4 rules — 4 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Import & registration: 7 rules — 6 blocking, 0 conditional, 1 advisory

Market profile

Main food law: Ley General de Salud 5395 (1973)
Labeling regulation: RTCA 67.01.07:10 (2012)
Import requirements: RTCA 67.01.31:20 registro sanitario
National standards body: INTECO (INTE) — paywalled
Latest USDA FAIRS report: 2025

Import and export

Documents to import

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/supplier — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/supplier — Mandatory
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Certificate of origin (non-preferential and preferential forms) — Issued by: Competent body in exporting country — Conditional
Customs import declaration — Issued by: Importer / licensed customs broker to Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (DGA, Ministerio de Hacienda) — Mandatory
Health / sanitary certificate from country of origin — Issued by: Competent authority of exporting country — Conditional
Veterinary (zoosanitary) certificate — Issued by: Official veterinary service of exporting country; checked by SENASA (MAG) — Conditional
Phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: NPPO of exporting country; checked by SFE (MAG) — Conditional
Registro sanitario de alimentos (per product, 5 yrs) — Issued by: Ministerio de Salud via registrelo.go.cr — Mandatory
Importer / facility registration — Issued by: Permiso Sanitario de Funcionamiento (importer/warehouse); SENASA plant registration for meat/dairy/eggs/seafood exporters — Mandatory
Import permit / licence — Issued by: SENASA import permit / SFE phytosanitary import permit (Permiso Fitosanitario de Importación) via VUCE — Conditional
Free sale certificate — Issued by: Authority of exporting country — Conditional
Certificate of analysis / lab report — Issued by: Accredited lab — Conditional
Label approval / Spanish or local-language label — Issued by: Ministerio de Salud (Registrelo) — Mandatory
Halal certificate — Issued by: Recognised halal body — Conditional
Fumigation certificate / ISPM-15 wood packaging mark — Issued by: Exporter's fumigation provider — Conditional
Legalisation / apostille of foreign documents — Issued by: Consulate / apostille authority — Conditional

Documents to export

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Export customs declaration: DUA de exportación via VUCE (PROCOMER) — Issued by: Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (DGA, Ministerio de Hacienda) — Mandatory
Certificate of origin (preferential/non-preferential) — Issued by: PROCOMER / exporter self-certification (CAFTA-DR, EU AA) — Conditional
Export health / sanitary certificate — Issued by: Ministerio de Salud (Registrelo) — Conditional
Export veterinary certificate — Issued by: SENASA (MAG) — Conditional
Export phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: SFE (MAG) — Conditional
Free sale certificate — Issued by: Ministerio de Salud (Registrelo) — Conditional
Exporter registration — Issued by: Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (DGA, Ministerio de Hacienda) / export promotion body — Mandatory
Legalisation / apostille of certificates — Issued by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (apostille) — Conditional

Government fees

Registro sanitario de alimento (per product, 5 yrs) (Import) — 55000 CRC
Impuesto Ley 6946 (1% on customs value) (Import) — 1%
Fixed DUA charges (timbres / derechos fijos, port charges) (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
SFE / SENASA import permit and border inspection (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — 13% (1% for canasta básica items)
PROCOMER export declaration (DUA) fee (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Phytosanitary / zoosanitary export certificate (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority

Customs single window: TICA / VUCE 2.0 (PROCOMER)

Customs duties are not included.

A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.

Official sources

Ley General de Salud No. 5395 (1973) Open the source
RTCA 67.01.07:10 — Etiquetado General de los Alimentos Preenvasados (Decreto Ejecutivo 37280-COMEX-MEIC-S) (2012) Open the source
RTCA 67.01.31:07 — Alimentos Procesados: Procedimiento para Otorgar el Registro Sanitario y la Inscripcion Sanitaria (2007) Open the source
RTCA 67.01.31:20 — Registro Sanitario procedure (updated version) (2020) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Costa Rica (CS2025-0016) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual — Costa Rica (CS2025-0017) (2025) Open the source
Guia de interpretacion del RTCA 67.01.07:10 (2012) Open the source
USDA Exporter Guide Annual — Costa Rica (CS2024-0016) (2024) Open the source

Reference documents

USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Costa Rica (CS2025-0016) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual — Costa Rica (CS2025-0017) (2025) Open the source
USDA Exporter Guide Annual — Costa Rica (CS2024-0016) (2024) Open the source
RTCA 67.01.31:20 — Registro Sanitario (updated) (2020) Open the source
RTCA 67.01.07:10 — Etiquetado General Alimentos Preenvasados (2012) Open the source
RTCA 67.01.31:07 — Registro Sanitario alimentos procesados (2007) Open the source
Ley General de Salud No. 5395 (1973) Open the source
Guia de interpretacion del RTCA 67.01.07:10 (2010s) Open the source
INTECO national standards (INTE norms)
ISO/Codex-derived INTE adoptions

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.