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Eligible/ineligible product
Eligible
- Beef
- Pork
- Poultry products
- turkey
Ineligible
- Poultry products
- The importation of poultry meat is subject to restrictions related to Avian Influenza. Poultry meat from Manitoba is prohibited.
Pre-export approvals by competent authority of importing country
Establishments
- In the case of turkey meat products, available information indicates that all Canadian registered establishments are considered eligible to export. Certification requirements have yet to be confirmed with Costa Rican authorities. In the meantime, based on available information, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will issue Annex A – Certificate of Inspection Covering Meat Products to exporters requesting it who confirm acceptance of commercial risk.
Import permit
- The importer must obtain the required import permit from Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) (Spanish only), prior to shipping.
- All import conditions applicable to the products intended for export to Costa Rica must be met by trading parties. For example requirements applicable to:
- product labelling
- product temperature
- maximum period of time between production and importation
- More information is available through the user guide section Guías al Usuario (Spanish only) of SENASA, and more specifically: Importación de Animales, Productos y Sub Productos de Origen Animal – PDF (656 kb) (Spanish only) .
Production controls and inspection requirements
- Establishments where meat products are manufactured for export to Costa Rica must develop, implement, and maintain effective and verifiable control programs for ensuring compliance with all applicable requirements.
- Where eligible and non-eligible products are manufactured at the establishment, the control programs must ensure that non-eligible products can be distinguished from those that are eligible through receiving, processing, shipping/distribution. The control programs must include monitoring, verification and deviation procedures.
- The controls implemented by the establishment to comply with applicable requirements must be reviewed and found satisfactory by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspector. The inspector will verify compliance through usual inspection activities.
Pork and beef
- In addition to Canadian operational and preoperational sanitation requirements, products must be tested for E.coli and Salmonella as per United States requirements. The products testing requirements for E. coli and Salmonella are found in the section on the United States of America (Annex T and Annex U).
Labelling, marking and packaging requirements
- Spanish language labels must include lot number, packaging date, expiration date and the official number of the producing establishment.
Documentation requirements
Certificate
- Certificate of Inspection Covering Meat Products (CFIA/ACIA 1454)
- Annex A – Certificate of Inspection Covering Meat Products
- Annex A is to accompany all consignments. This annex is equivalent to form CFIA/ACIA 1454 but with Spanish language text. Form CFIA/ACIA 1454 must not be used for consignments to Costa Rica.
- Annex B – Pork meat exported to Costa Rica
- Annex C – Certification covering beef meat and beef products intended for export to Costa Rica
Other information
Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) (Spanish only)
Barreal de Heredia Costa Rica de Jardines del Recuerdo
1KM al oeste y 400 metros al Norte
Campus Universitario Benjamin Nuñez Apartado 3-3006 Cenada
Tel.: 2587-1600