Costa Rica - GHS Status

Focal point:

Ministry of Health

GHS implementation status

Transport of dangerous goods

Implemented

For international transport of dangerous goods, see “Implementation through international legal instruments, recommendations, codes and guidelines”

Other sectors:

Implemented

In 2017, The Government of Costa Rica has issued in 2017 two executive decrees related to GHS implementation.

• Executive decree No. 40705-S, published in Gazette 207, Issue No.263, of 2 November 2017, and Technical Regulation RTCR 478: 2015 “Chemical products. Hazardous chemical products, registration, import and control”; and
• Executive decree No.40457-S, published in Gazette No.123, Issue No.157 of 29 June 2017, and Technical Regulation RTCR 481: 2015 “Chemical products. Hazardous chemical products.

Labelling”.

All hazardous chemicals manufactured, imported, stored, distributed, supplied, sold, used or transported within Costa Rica must have been previously registered with the Ministry of Health (MS), and comply with the applicable labelling requirements to be placed on the market.

Executive decree No.40705-S requires that hazardous chemicals (with the exception of those listed in article 1, item 2 “Scope”) be classified in accordance with the GHS (Rev.6) and be accompanied by a GHS compliant safety data sheet in order to be registered.

Technical regulation RTCR 478:2015 entered into force on 2 May 2018. It defines different transitional periods for the gradual renewal of registrations and notifications relating to import of hazardous raw materials obtained before its entry into force, as follows:

• Products registered or notified between 6 October 1999 and 30 December 2005: 1,5 years
• Products registered or notified between January 2006 and December 2008: 2.5 years
• Products registered or notified between January 2009 and December 2011: 3.5 years
• Products registered or notified between January 2012 and May 2018: 5 years.

In addition, executive decree No.40.457-S of 20 April 2017 and its related technical regulation RTCR 481:2015 requires labelling in accordance with the GHS (rev.6) for workplace and supplier chemicals, with the exception of those addressed in article 1, item 2 (Scope). It provides a five-year transitional period (until 30 December 2022), allowing use of existing non-GHS compliant labels on chemicals already registered and placed on the market during that period.