Costa Rica (CR)

Considerations prior to updating of establishment details (added 3 June 2021)

The following should be considered prior to updating establishment details:

When an establishment notifies the Department of an administrative change (that is, a change of occupier, company name, address, or in some instances product specific changes), the Department will amend the establishment record in the system.
The establishment's amended details will appear on applicable export documentation including health certification from the date that the Department amends the establishment record
When relevant changes are made to an establishment's details, the Department will advise trading partners that maintain establishment lists of the change of details; however, the Department is unable to guarantee a timeframe as to when trading partners will update the establishment's overseas listing details they maintain. This means that there may be a period in which export certification issued by the Department does not match the trading partner's official published listing, which may result in clearance issues at the port of entry.
Establishments should be aware that their ability to export to some countries may be impacted during this transition period and may include issues with goods in transit.
Exporters and manufacturers are encouraged to check that their establishment's details are recorded accurately where they appear on trading partners' lists and to contact the Department if errors are found.

1.1 Establishment registration

Initial listing procedure	Required
Export Registration	Yes
Establishment listing required for Costa Rica*	Yes
Imported country inspection for listing**	Yes

*Details: Only milk and milk products produced in registered establishments approved by the Costa Rican authorities are eligible for export to Costa Rica.

Exporters must confirm with the manufacturer whether the milk and milk products are eligible for export to Costa Rica.

**Details: may be through a paperwork submission.

1.2 Overseas listing

1.3 Prohibited products

There are no known products that are prohibited for export to this market.

1.4 General information

2.1 Milk and milk products

Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the department is required by an importing country.

We are not aware that Costa Rica has any known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.

2.2 Compositional requirements

2.3 Further information

3.1 Technical grade and pharmaceutical products

Unless technical products and pharmaceutical material are prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods. They are not regulated by the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

3.2 Animal feed

Unless animal food is prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods.

In accordance with the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, animal food must be clearly identified as animal food and not for human consumption. It must also be segregated from and not contaminate milk and milk products that are for human consumption.

3.3 Manufacturing grade products

Costa Rica has no known additional requirements for Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products that differ from the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Manufacturing Grade products are defined in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

3.4 Processing

3.5 Further information

4.1 Microbial and residue sampling

Costa Rica has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of milk and milk products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Costa Rica residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Costa Rica or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Costa Rica and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Costa Rica standards and the Australian standards.
Any detection of a residue above the Costa Rica MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note: Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

4.2 Operational requirements additional to Australia's export legislation

Costa Rica has no known additional requirements for general operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

4.3 Hygiene

Costa Rica has no known additional hygiene requirements that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

5.1 Milk and milk products

Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rules

are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal; and
are intended to be exported as food.

Milk and milk products that are not prescribed under Australia's export rules

Milk and milk products which do not meet the criteria under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 are classified by Australia as non-prescribed goods. It is the responsibility of the exporter to confirm with the importing country if there are any specific requirements for the import of these products.

Examples of non-prescribed goods are:

ice cream
cheesecakes, Bavarian desserts and similar desserts
colostrum
milk or milk products encased in pastry or a fruit or vegetable product
milk products where milk or milk products are not the major component
milk or milk products obtained from a non-bovine animal
milk or milk products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material
liquid milk and milk products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres
milk or milk products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 kilograms
milk or milk products in the form of a tablet or capsule
milk or milk products for export to New Zealand.

Further information on exporting non-prescribed goods from Australia is available on the Department's website.

In some cases, an importing country requires specific health certification and government oversight for what would typically be non-prescribed milk and milk products. When required, these products become prescribed under export legislation and must meet all export and importing country requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, the products being manufactured and stored at an export registered establishment and must have a valid export permit and health certificate for each consignment. Guidance on export registration can be found at Dairy export registered establishments.

5.1.1 Health certification for milk and milk products

For milk and milk products produced for human consumption (including milk and milk products classified as a prescribed good by an importing Country), use Health Certificate template ZD035.

ZD035 Dairy Health Certificate

The ZD035 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:
In sound condition
Fit for human consumption
Of Australian origin.

Endorsement 300 – DAIRY - GENERAL Radioactivity statement - 50Bq/kg

The goods described in this certificate have not been contaminated by radioactive elements from nuclear fallout. Analysis of representative samples of similar products has shown that the radioactivity level does not exceed 50 Bq/kg.

Endorsement 356 – DAIRY - GENERAL radioactivity and diseases statement

The goods described in this certificate have not been contaminated by radioactive elements from nuclear fallout. Analysis of representative samples of similar products has shown that the radioactivity level does not exceed 50 Bq/kg. Animals from which these products were taken were clinically free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, foot and mouth disease, Rinderpest, vesicular stomatitis, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bluetongue, lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever and live in areas free from these diseases. I further certify that foot and mouth disease, Rinderpest and bovine spongiform encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.

Endorsement 463 – DAIRY - GENERAL animal health statement

Animals from which these products were taken were clinically free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, foot and mouth disease, Rinderpest, vesicular stomatitis, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bluetongue, lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever and live in areas free from these diseases. I further certify that foot and mouth disease, Rinderpest and bovine spongiform encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.

Exporter declaration

Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:

applies to the milk and milk products
complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Transit Certification Requirements

Milk and milk products transiting the European Union or the United States may require transit documentation. These certificates are available as additional certificates through the EXDOC system. If the product is transiting the United States, standard certification is required and the exporter should contact the Department for advice on how this certification may be issued. If the product is transiting a European Union member state, see the particular European Union member state regarding the certificate template to select.

5.2 Manufacturing grade products

For Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products, use the ZD016 Certificate as to Condition for Manufacturing Grade products.

The ZD016 Certificate as to Condition contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:
In sound condition
Of Australian Origin

5.3 Technical grade and pharmaceutical products

The ZD001 Certificate as to Condition may be issued for technical produts and pharmaceutical material.

The ZD001 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information on this form is true and correct in every particular details and that the product described above is of Australian origin and is acceptable for sale in Australia.

5.4 Animal feed

The ZD015 Certificate as to Condition for Stockfood or the E242A Declaration and Certificate for Shipments of Inedible Animal Products can be issued for stockfood made from milk and milk products.

The ZD015 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:
In sound condition
Of Australian Origin

The E242A Declaration and Certificate contains the following attestations:

It has been declared to me, a duly qualified veterinary surgeon in the employ of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and I have no reason to doubt the products described above were derived from animals of Australian origin and the products were treated solely within Australia. I further certify that foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest do not exist in Australia.

5.5 Consignments under 10 kilograms and trade samples

5.6 Additional certification/letters

6.1 Import permit

Exporters should ensure that their importer complies with any requirements to obtain a permit for imports into Costa Rica.

6.2 Port-of-entry inspection and testing

7.1 Packaging

Costa Rica has no known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.2 Labelling

Costa Rica has no known specific requirements for labelling in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.3 Shelf life

Costa Rica has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions other than those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.4 Shipping marks

Costa Rica has no known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).

7.5 Further information

Costa Rica has no known specific requirements for shipping and airfreight. Milk and milk products must be transported to ensure their condition and integrity is maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

8.1 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout

13/07/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 4.1).
27/07/2022 - Removal and replacement of Dairy by Definition wording (sections 2.1 and 5.1).
20/02/2022 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Dairy headings.

Dairy