
Costa Rica
Library Updates
Export Requirements
Last update Jul 11, 2022
- Eligible Products
- Egg products
- Ineligible Products*
- Imported dehydrated egg products, except for imported dehydrated egg products imported from Canada
Documentation Requirements
- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5EP
- For dehydrated egg products, also obtain FSIS Form 9060-5B. Include the following statements typed on the 9060-5B*
- The egg product originates from, or was legally imported into, the United States.
- The product is subject to a treatment of a minimum of 67°C for at least 20 hours or another treatment which has been shown to inactivate biological pathogens of concern transmissible through the product, and procedures are in place to prevent cross-contamination of the final product.
- The egg products undergo microbiological testing as required by FSIS regulations and were found to be in full compliance
- For all other egg products, include the following statement typed in the remarks section of the FSIS Form 9060-5EP: “The egg product has been pasteurized in accordance with FSIS requirements.”
- For dehydrated egg products, also obtain FSIS Form 9060-5B. Include the following statements typed on the 9060-5B*
Plants Eligible for Export
All FSIS inspected egg products plants are eligible to export.
- Fresh/frozen bone-in and boneless beef including further processed products, and beef tongues, kidneys, livers, and hearts. Bovine tripe is eligible for export under the requirements that apply to beef and other beef by-products, including further processed products.
- Fresh/frozen pork and pork products.
- Fully cooked pork products.
- Fresh/frozen poultry and poultry meat products.(Except as noted in Section B. 2)
- Fully cooked poultry meat and poultry meat products that are heat treated in compliance with the time/temperature requirements in the OIE Guidelines (currently 10.4.26) to inactivate the AI virus. (See Ineligible section below).
- Hog casings derived/produced from animals slaughtered on or after May 17, 2013.
- All fresh/frozen poultry meat and poultry meat products derived birds originating from, slaughtered or processed in, or stored within the listed states and counties, are ineligible for export, unless heat treated in accordance with OIE Guidelines (currently 10.4.26) to destroy the AI virus - (see Eligible Products A.5 above)
- Arizona
- Coconino County between April 1, 2019 and November 10, 2019.
- California
- Los Angeles County between May 17, 2018 and January 9, 2019;
- San Bernardino County between May 24, 2018 and September 15, 2020;
- Riverside County between June 30, 2018 and September 15, 2020;
- Ventura County between August 15, 2018 and September 20, 2018;
- Stanislaus County, California between July 27, 2018 and before July 29, 2019.
- Colorado
- LaPlata County on or after April 19, 2022;
- Montrose County on or after April 19, 2022;
- Pitkin County on or after April 8, 2022;
- Weld County on or after April 27, 2022.
- Delaware
- Kent County on or after March 17, 2022 and before May 26, 2022; and
- New Castle County on or after February 22, 2022 and before June 24, 2022.
- Idaho
- Ada County on or after May 10, 2022;
- Canyon County on or after May 6, 2022;
- Gooding County on or after April 14, 2022;
- Madison County on or after April 20, 2022.
- Indiana
- Allen County on or after June 7, 2022;
- Dubois County on or after February 8, 2022 and before June 14, 2022;
- Elkhart County on or after April 8, 2022 and before June 18, 2022;
- Greene County on or after February 23, 2022 and before May 31, 2022.
- Iowa
- Bremer County on or after April 21, 2022;
- Buena Vista County on or after March 6, 2022 and before June 23, 2022;
- Cherokee County on or after March 31, 2022;
- Franklin County on or after March 25, 2022 and before May 25, 2022;
- Guthrie County on or after March 28, 2022 and before June 24, 2022;
- Hamilton County on or after March 28, 2022 and before May 26, 2022;
- Hardin County on or after April 5, 2022.
- Humboldt County on or after April 2, 2022 and before May 29, 2022;
- Osceola County on or after March 31, 2022 and before June 22, 2022;
- Sac County on or after April 2, 2022 and before June 20, 2022; and
- Taylor County on or after March 10, 2022 and before June 3, 2022.
- Kansas
- Dickinson County on or after March 18, 2022;
- Franklin County on or after March 11, 2022;
- McPherson County on or after April 13, 2022;
- Republic County on or after April 27, 2022.
- Kentucky
- Fulton County on or after February 12, 2022 and before May 8, 2022;
- Webster County on or after February 15, 2022 and before May 14, 2022.
- Maine
- Cumberland County on or after March 22, 2022.
- Maryland
- Cecil County on or after March 4, 2022;
- Queen Anne’s County on or after March 8, 2022 and before June 5, 2022.
- Michigan
- Menominee County on or after April 13, 2022;
- Muskegon County on or after May 10, 2022;
- Wexford County on or after April 28, 2022.
- Minnesota
- Becker County on or after April 3, 2022;
- Big Stone County on or after April 5, 2022 and before June 4, 2022;
- Blue Earth County on or after April 13, 20222022 and before June 24, 2022;
- Chisago County on or after May 11, 2022;
- Crow Wing County on or after May 10, 2022;
- Dakota County on or after May 21, 2022;
- Dodge County on or after April 3, 2022 and before June 26, 2022;
- Kandiyohi County on or after March 29, 2022;
- Lac Qui Parle County on or after March 29, 2022 and before June 30, 2022;
- Le Sueur County on or after April 3, 20222022 and before June 25, 2022;
- Lyon County on or after May 3, 2022;
- Meeker County on or after March 25, 2022 and before July 4, 2022;*
- Morrison County on or after March 31, 2022;
- Otter Tail County on or after April 8, 2022;
- Renville County on or after April 8, 2022 and before July 5, 2022;*
- Stearns County on or after March 26, 2022;
- Swift County on or after April 9, 2022.
- Todd County on or after April 20, 2022;
- Waseca County on or after April 5, 2022 and before July 1, 2022;
- Yellow Medicine County on or after April 12, 2022.
- Missouri
- Dade County on or after April 6, 2022 and before June 16, 2022;
- Jasper County on or after March 8, 2022 and before June 29, 2022;
- Lawrence County on or after March 9, 2022;
- Stoddard County on or after March 4, 2022.
- Montana
- Cascade County on or after April 7, 2022 and before June 1, 2022;
- Glacier County on or after April 20, 2022 and before June 21, 2022.
- Nebraska
- Butler County on or after March 22, 2022 and before June 30, 2022;
- Dixon County on or after April 12, 2022 and before June 20, 2022;
- Knox County on or after April 27, 2022 and before July 5, 2022.*
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New Jersey
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Monmouth County on or after May 17, 2022.
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- New York
- Monroe County on or after March 29, 2022;
- Orleans County on or after April 5, 2022;
- Suffolk County on or after March 23, 2022.
- North Carolina
- Anson County between February 18, 2020, and September 18, 2020;
- Johnston County on or after March 29, 2022;
- Union County between February 18, 2020 and October 19, 2020;
- Wayne County on or after April 2, 2022.
- North Dakota
- Barnes County on or after April 13, 2022;
- Dickey County on or after March 31, 2022;
- Kidder County on or after March 29, 2022;
- LaMoure County on or after April 2, 2022 and before July 2, 2022;*
- McHenry County on or after June 6, 2022;
- Richland County on or after April 21, 2022;
- Stutsman County on or after April 8, 2022.
- Oklahoma
- Sequoyah County on or after April 30, 2022 and before June 8, 2022.
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Oregon
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Lane County on or after May 17, 2022.
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- Pennsylvania
- Berks County on or after May 3, 2022;
- Lancaster County on or after April 15, 2022.
- South Carolina
- Chesterfield County between March 17, 2020, and August 5, 2020.
- South Dakota
- Beadle County on or after March 22, 2022 and before June 17, 2022;
- Bon Homme Country on or after March 29, 2022 and before May 27, 2022;
- Brule County on or after March 30, 2022 and before May 29, 2022;
- Charles Mix County on or after March 5, 2022 and before May 14, 2022;
- Clark County on or after March 27, 2022 and before June 22, 2022;
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Codington County on or after May 19, 2022;
- Day County on or after May 4, 2022;
- Deuel County on or after April 13, 2022 and before May 23, 2022;
- Edmunds County on or after March 23, 2022;
- Faulk County on or after April 5, 2022 and before May 29, 2022;
- Hanson County on or after March 18, 2022 and before June 4, 2022;
- Hutchinson County on or after March 20, 2022 and before May 31, 2022;
- Jerauld County on or after March 24, 2022 and before May 3, 2022;*
- Kingsbury County on or after March 18, 2022 and before May 17, 2022;
- Lake County on or after April 2, 2022 and before June 4, 2022;
- McPherson County on or after March 27, 2022;
- Spink County on or after March 29, 2022 and before June 11, 2022;
- Yankton County on or after April 9, 2022 and before May 26, 2022.
- Texas
- Erath County on or after April 2, 2022 and before May 19, 2022.
- Utah
- Cache County on or after April 25, 2022.
- Washington
- King County on or after June 7, 2022; and
- Pacific County on or after May 5, 2022.
- Wisconsin
- Barron County on or after April 12, 2022;
- Jefferson County on or after March 14, 2022;
- Polk County on or after April 15, 2022;
- Racine County on or after April 7, 2022.
- Arizona
All FSIS export certificates accompanying the product must be signed by an FSIS veterinarian in blue ink. The veterinary degree (DVM or equivalent) must be indicated after the signature.
- Certification Requirements
- For fresh/frozen bone-in and boneless beef and beef tongues, kidneys, livers, hearts and tripe, obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness. The following statements must be provided on a FSIS Letterhead Certificate:
- The United States complies with the conditions stated in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code as a country with negligible BSE risk.
- The beef meat and meat products were subject to testing for chemical residues in accordance with the USA National Residue Program sampling plans.
- The product (beef, livers, tongues, hearts and kidneys) was inspected and passed and found fit for human consumption.
- The beef and beef products were produced under mandatory HACCP regulations and undergo microbiological testing as required by FSIS regulations and were found to be in full compliance.
- Fresh/frozen pork and pork products - obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, with the following certification statements additionally provided on a FSIS Letterhead Certificate:
- The United States is free of classical swine fever and vaccination against the disease is prohibited.
- The pork and pork products were derived from animals that were subject to testing for chemical residues in accordance with the USA National Residue Program sampling plans.
- The pork and pork products were inspected and passed and found to be wholesome and fit for human consumption.
- The pork and pork products were produced under mandatory HACCP regulations and undergo microbiological testing as required by FSIS regulations and were found to be in full compliance.
- Fresh/frozen poultry - obtain FSIS Form 9060-5,with the following certification statements additionally provided on a FSIS Letterhead Certificate:
- The product was derived from birds originating from a zone free of exotic Newcastle disease and highly pathogenic notifiable avian influenza (HPNAI) for at least 21 days prior to slaughter, and from birds subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections for NAI with favorable results.
- The birds are the progeny of flocks participating in the National Poultry Improvement Plan which are routinely monitored and free from Salmonella pathogenic to poultry.
- The slaughter plant or establishment where the birds were processed was under official inspection and is authorized to export poultry meat.
- The product was inspected and passed and found fit for human consumption.
- The poultry meat was produced under mandatory HACCP regulations that require microbial testing and written procedures to prevent contamination of carcasses and parts by enteric pathogens and fecal contamination throughout the entire slaughter and dressing operation and was found to be in compliance.
- The poultry meat was produced in accordance with the U.S. National Residue Program
- Fully cooked poultry meat products - obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, and include the following certification statement in the "Remarks" section:
" The fully cooked processed poultry product was produced in accordance with USDA regulatory requirements." - Fully cooked pork meat products - obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, and include the following certification statement in the "Remarks" section:
" The fully cooked processed pork product was produced in accordance with USDA regulatory requirements." - For Hog Casing derived/produced from animals slaughtered before May 17, 2013 – Obtain the appropriate Casings Export Certificate (FSIS Form 9060-7 Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-Mortem, Post Mortem and Fit For Human Food Statements or FSIS Form 9060-18 Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-Mortem, Post Mortem, and Sound and Clean Statements) and add the following statement in the Remarks section.
"Hog casings are derived/produced from animals slaughtered before May 17, 2013."
- For fresh/frozen bone-in and boneless beef and beef tongues, kidneys, livers, hearts and tripe, obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness. The following statements must be provided on a FSIS Letterhead Certificate:
- For Beef, Poultry and Pork:
- The official certificate must declare the following: date, exporter (name and address), consignee (name and address), establishment (name and number), lot number or production code, number of packages, weight, kind of product (ex: beef cuts, ribs, beef liver), the official export stamp, and must be signed by an official FSIS veterinarian. The ink color of the official FSIS veterinarian’s signature, the export stamp on the FSIS Form 9060-5 certificate, and the export stamp on the letterhead certificate must be different from the ink color used to print the certificate. This ink color requirement does not apply to the ink color of the export stamp that is applied to the shipping containers/boxes. The certificates must be numbered; each export document page issued by FSIS must be signed and stamped with the official export stamp.
- Costa Rica’s labeling requirements are different from domestic requirements. Beef and pork product (bulk and retail) labeling must be in compliance with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Economy Industry and Commerce regulations. Exporters are advised to work closely with Costa Rican importers to assure labeling meets these requirements. The labels for beef and pork may be applied to the outer-most box for the purpose of point of entry inspection.
- For Beef:
- For beef products, labels must be in Spanish. Bilingual labels are acceptable.
- In addition to U.S. labeling requirements, the following information must appear clearly on the outer-most box packaging label of raw intact, ground, marinated, or tenderized meat and viscera.
- Name of cut (ground meat is exempt from indicating the type of cut)
- Packing date
- Expiration date. In the case of mixtures of different types of batches of ground meat, the expiration date shall be indicated taking into account the date of the oldest batch.
- The ingredients list must state the amount of water added in percentage
- The percentage of fat for ground beef
- Lot number or production code. The codes must be legible, indelible and resistant to moisture.
- Country of origin
NOTE: The above information is not required for raw sausages.
- For Pork:
- For pork products, labels must be in Spanish. Bilingual labels are acceptable.
- In addition to U.S. labeling requirements, the following information must appear clearly on the outer-most box packaging label of raw intact, ground, marinated, or tenderized meat and viscera.
- Name of cut (ground meat is exempt from indicating the type of cut)
- Packing date
- Expiration date. In the case of mixtures of different types of batches of ground meat, the expiration date shall be indicated taking into account the date of the oldest batch.
- The ingredients list must state the amount of water added in percentage
- The percentage of fat for ground pork
- Lot number or production code. The codes must be legible, indelible and resistant to moisture.
- Country of origin
NOTE: The above information is not required for raw sausages or bacon.
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For Poultry:
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For Fresh/Frozen poultry, labels must be in Spanish. Bilingual labels are acceptable.
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All packaging material must be new (i.e., unused) and must clearly indicate the following information
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Lot number, packing date
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Expiration date
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Temperature recommended for storage, conservation and distribution;
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Name and official number of the producing establishment.
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- If the product is intended for the retail market in Costa Rica, then all labeling must be in compliance with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce regulations. US Exporters are advised to work closely with Costa Rican importers to assure all labeling meets these requirements. For additional information on labeling regulations see FAS’ Costa Rica’s Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) Report: https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/costa-rica-fairs-country-report-2
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- For Beef:
- Beef and beef products that are AMS graded and are labeled USDA Choice or USDA Prime, may include the USDA grade designation on the export certificate in the “Product as Labeled” section of FSIS Form 9060-5 with the relevant beef product.
- Frozen beef product must be packed and maintained at -18 degrees Centigrade during storage and inside shipping containers while in-transit to Costa Rica. Fresh beef products should be kept at 0 degrees Centigrade or below.
- For Pork:
- Frozen pork product must be packed and maintained at -18°C during storage and inside shipping containers while in-transit to Costa Rica. Fresh pork products should be kept at 0°C or below.
All Federally inspected establishments are eligible to export to Costa Rica.
Import Requirements
Last update Feb 28, 2022
Additional Import Information
The products identified in the table above are eligible for export from Costa Rica to the United States as determined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Equivalence Process.
Source materials used to produce product intended for export to the United States must originate from a certified establishment in an eligible country that has an equivalent raw or processed products inspection system.
The above are the Process Categories, Product Categories, and Product Groups as listed in the FSIS Product Categorization document and defined in the Public Health Information System (PHIS).
APHIS Animal Disease Requirements for Costa Rica:
The USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) restricts certain animal products from entering the United States because of animal disease conditions in the country of origin. Applicable APHIS animal disease requirements that may have an impact on Costa Rica’s eligibility to export product to the United States are listed below:
Beef imported from Costa Rica is subjected to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) requirements specified in 9 CFR 94.18 or 9 CFR 94.19.
For information or questions concerning a country’s animal disease status and restrictions please contact the APHIS Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal Product Import and Export at:
USDA-APHIS
Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal Product Import and Export (APIE)
4700 River Road, Unit 40
Riverdale, MD 20737
Phone: (301) 851-3300
E-mail: APIE@USDA.GOV
Link to Costa Rica’s Certified Establishment List:
A certified establishment is an establishment that the Central Competent Authority (CCA) of the foreign country has certified as meeting the requirements of the inspection system that FSIS has determined equivalent to the United States inspection system and, therefore, eligible to export meat, poultry, or egg products to the United States.