Distillers Alcohol regulations in Costa Rica
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Costa Rica, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Status
- Legal
- Legal drinking age
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Sanitary Operation Permit (Permiso Sanitario de Funcionamiento - PSF), environmental compliance certification (SETENA), municipal commercial patent/license, and alcohol supply contract/concession with FANAL/CNP.
- Authority
- Ministerio de Salud, Consejo Nacional de Producción (CNP) / FANAL, and the respective Municipalidad.
- Documents
- Constitutive deed, proof of legal personality, technical layout of processing facility, waste management and environmental plans, occupational safety certifications, and sanitary registration dossiers.
- Fees
- PSF fees typically range from US$30 to US$100 depending on risk category; municipal patent taxes vary by canton.
- Time to obtain
- 1 to 3 months for health and municipal operating authorizations.
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Any natural or legal entity registered in Costa Rica with a valid tax ID (cédula jurídica/física) and authorized as a food and beverage importer.
- Licences or registrations
- Registration as an importer with the Ministry of Health and registration as an importer of record in the customs system (TICA).
- Authority
- Dirección de Regulación de Productos de Interés Sanitario (Ministerio de Salud) and Dirección General de Aduanas (Ministerio de Hacienda).
- Documents
- Importer registration form (Solicitud de Registro de Importador), tax certificate, commercial registry extract, digital signature credentials (Firma Digital), and customs broker representation.
- Fees
- Free or nominal platform user access fee; standard customs brokerage costs apply.
- Time to obtain
- 1 to 2 weeks.
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Sanitary registration (Registro Sanitario de Alimentos) must be completed electronically via the official 'Regístrelo' portal (v2.registrelo.go.cr) prior to commercial importation. The registration process…
Import rules
Imports must be cleared through an authorized customs broker via the TICA digital customs clearing system and VUCE (PROCOMER); each shipment requires commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin (to claim…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Standard MFN customs tariff (Derechos Arancelarios a la Importación - DAI) for HS 2208 is 15% ad valorem; originating spirits from trade agreement partners (including the United States under CAFTA-DR and the European Union under the Association Agreement) enter at 0% tariff.
Excise and taxes
1) Specific Alcohol Tax (Ley 7972): Levied per milliliter of absolute alcohol and adjusted quarterly based on CPI (for >30% ABV spirits, approximately ₡5.15 per ml of absolute alcohol). 2) Selective Consumption Tax (Impuesto…
Retail and distribution
Regulated under Ley 9047; retail distribution is conducted by private commercial outlets holding municipal liquor licenses ('licencias de expendio de bebidas con contenido alcohólico'). Licenses are categorized into Class A and B…
Online sale and delivery
allowed
Labelling
Must comply with Central American Technical Regulations (RTCA 67.01.06:11), Ley 9047, and Executive Decree 15449-S. Must be in Spanish (supplementary stickers allowed). Mandatory particulars: brand name, generic product…
Advertising
Regulated under Ley 9047 and Executive Decree No. 37739-S. Commercial advertising requires prior formal approval from the Ministry of Health. Advertising directed at minors, linking alcohol with driving, work performance, sexual…
Legal definitions of spirits
Regulated across Central America under RTCA standards for distilled alcoholic beverages (including RTCA 67.04.54:10 / national technical criteria). Specific definitions and minimum ABV thresholds apply to rum (typically 35%-37.5%…
Dry or restricted areas
Under Ley 9047, retail alcohol licenses are restricted within a 400-meter radius of educational centers, healthcare clinics, daycare centers, and churches for designated license types; indigenous administrative territories…
Recent changes
Legislative review and debate on Draft Bill Expediente 23.627 proposing to break FANAL's state monopoly over alcohol production and commercial distillation. Quarterly updates to specific alcohol excise rates per milliliter of…
Opportunities for exporters
Foreign spirits exporters enjoy 0% import tariffs under preferential free trade agreements (such as CAFTA-DR and the EU-Central America trade agreement), meeting rising consumer demand for premium imported whiskies, gins, and…
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- TTB International Alcohol Regulations - Costa Rica
- Ministerio de Salud de Costa Rica - Sistema Regístrelo
- Sistema Nacional de Legislación Vigente (SINALEVI) - Ley 9047
- Sistema Nacional de Legislación Vigente (SINALEVI) - Ley 7972
- International Trade Administration - Costa Rica Import Tariffs
- Fábrica Nacional de Licores (FANAL) - Reseña Histórica y Monopolio
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