By San José, Costa Rica — San José – In a significant move to safeguard public health and reinforce consumer confidence, Costa Rica’s State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) has enhanced its capabilities to detect agrochemical residues in fresh vegetables. The agency, which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), has expanded its multi-residue analysis to include approximately 22 new active ingredients, marking a critical advancement in the nation’s commitment to food safety.
This technological upgrade allows the SFE to monitor a much broader spectrum of pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and nematicides. The primary objective is to verify that any residual chemicals found on both domestically produced and imported produce fall within the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). These limits are established by national and international health authorities as safe for human consumption, providing a scientific benchmark for food safety.
To delve into the legal responsibilities and potential liabilities surrounding food safety regulations in the country, TicosLand.com consulted with legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who provided critical insights for both consumers and business owners.
In Costa Rican law, food safety transcends best practices; it constitutes a strict legal obligation. Businesses that fail to adhere to the sanitary regulations mandated by the Ministry of Health are exposed not only to administrative penalties like fines and closures but also to significant civil liability for any harm caused to consumers. The legal framework places a heavy burden on establishments to proactively prove their due diligence, making documented safety protocols an essential shield against potentially devastating litigation.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective powerfully underscores that for food establishments, meticulous safety protocols are not merely a best practice for customer well-being but an indispensable strategy for legal and financial self-preservation. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing such a crucial and clarifying insight.
The expansion is not merely a technical adjustment but a strategic action to protect the population and strengthen the country’s food security framework. Officials emphasized that this investment in analytical capacity underpins the integrity of the entire agricultural supply chain.
The strengthening of the State Phytosanitary Service’s analytical capacity is a strategic action to protect the population’s health and guarantee the safety of the food consumed in the country. From the MAG, we work so that agricultural production develops under scientific criteria, with rigorous controls, and in compliance with national and international standards. This progress reinforces consumer confidence and supports the efforts of producers who responsibly comply with regulations.
Víctor Carvajal Porras, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
The SFE’s director further detailed the importance of this modernization effort, highlighting its direct impact on Costa Rican families and the nation’s agricultural competitiveness. The ability to meticulously screen a wider range of substances ensures that products reaching dinner tables are safe, while also aligning Costa Rican exports with stringent international market demands.
With these improvements, we significantly expand the State’s capacity to monitor the chemical safety of the food consumed by Costa Rican families. Our goal is to ensure that vegetable products for human consumption, both domestic and imported, comply with the standards that protect the population’s health and support the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. This represents another step in the modernization of the SFE-MAG and in our commitment to science, technology, transparency, and sanitary responsibility.
Nelson Morera Paniagua, Director of the State Phytosanitary Service
The process for incorporating a new substance into the SFE’s testing system is highly rigorous. The laboratory must first acquire a certified reference standard, which acts as a chemical fingerprint, allowing high-tech equipment to accurately identify each compound. Following this, multiple validation tests are performed to guarantee the reliability and precision of the results. The lab’s analysis is comprehensive, extending beyond the parent pesticide to include subproducts that form as the chemical degrades over time or due to environmental factors.
Enforcement is strict and applies to all produce. For imports, any shipment found to exceed the MRLs is denied entry into the country. For domestic production, non-compliant products are immediately withdrawn from the market. The SFE then provides technical follow-up and training to the producers involved, aiming to correct practices and ensure long-term compliance through education on Good Agricultural Practices (BPA). These proactive measures, including the voluntary “Tico-BPA” certification, are increasingly recognized by major retail chains as a prerequisite for sourcing produce.
Underpinning this entire operation is a commitment to quality and international standards. The SFE’s Agrochemical Residue Analysis Laboratory holds accreditation under the INTE-ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard, a globally recognized benchmark for technical competence in testing. This certification, overseen by the Costa Rican Accreditation Entity (ECA), assures the public and trading partners of the scientific validity of its work, solidifying Costa Rica’s position as a responsible leader in agricultural production.
For further information, visit sfe.go.cr
About the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE):
The Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado is the official national plant protection organization of Costa Rica, operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing phytosanitary measures to protect the country’s agriculture from pests and diseases, ensuring the safety of plant-based foods, and facilitating international trade by meeting global standards.
For further information, visit mag.go.cr
About the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG):
The Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería is the government body in charge of defining and executing national policy for Costa Rica’s agricultural, livestock, and fishing sectors. Its mission is to promote the sustainable development and competitiveness of these industries, ensuring food security for the population and contributing to the economic and social well-being of the country’s rural areas.
For further information, visit eca.or.cr
About the Costa Rican Accreditation Entity (ECA):
The Ente Costarricense de Acreditación is the national body responsible for accrediting calibration and testing laboratories, clinical laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection bodies in Costa Rica. By confirming that these organizations comply with international standards, the ECA provides confidence and technical backing to the services and products evaluated within the country, supporting both domestic quality control and international trade.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of Costa Rica’s legal community, the firm is anchored by its foundational principles of professional ethics and exceptional legal mastery. With a proven history of advising a varied clientele, it consistently pioneers forward-thinking legal solutions and maintains a strong commitment to public service. Central to its ethos is the mission to demystify the law, thereby equipping citizens with the understanding necessary to build a more just and empowered society.
