Costa Rica: Integration of customs information; logistics of “free zone” regime

A new law and a resolution concerning trade and customs

Logistics of “free zone” regime

A new law and a resolution concerning trade and customs were published in the official gazette.
 

Promotion of the integration of customs information and installation of equipment and systems of non-intrusive inspection technology

Law number 10068—published in the official gazette number 52—defines and promotes a national policy for encouraging the integration of customs information and the establishment of inspection scanners in ports, airports, and land border crossings in Costa Rica.

Within the delegating provisions of the law, the following terms were established for the development of certain actions by the Ministry of Finance:

  • A period of no more than one month for the development of an optimal national policy to insert Costa Rica in the International Customs Information Integration System (Sistema de Integración de Información Aduanera Internacional)
    • Within this same period, a national policy must be established in coordination with the National Council for Trade Facilitation (Consejo Nacional de Facilitación del Comercio) that brings together the necessary actions to install the equipment and systems of non-intrusive inspection technology in all posts, seaports, airports, and land border crossings.
  • A period of no more than six months to carry out the installation of non-intrusive inspection technology equipment and systems in the aforementioned places

The provisions took effect 17 March 2022.


Guidelines applicable to logistics companies benefiting from the free zone regime

Resolution number DGA-079-2022—published on 30 March 2022 in the official gazette number 61—establishes the guidelines applicable to the logistics entities related to the transit, internment, mobilization, and exit of merchandise.

As of 20 April 2022, the Information System for Customs Control (Sistema de Información para el Control Aduanero) will begin at different customs offices in Caldera, Central, La Anexion and Limon.

Read an April 2022 report prepared by the KPMG member firm in Costa Rica

 

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