We all know the importance of taking care of ourselves: eating healthy, drinking enough water, exercising, and consuming quality products. Now the simple question is, how do we ensure the quality of the products we consume and use?

The Ministry of Health of Costa Rica is the entity in charge of reviewing the processes of manufacturing, preservation, handling, and distribution of products for human consumption, and ensuring that there is no danger when using them. From here arises the importance of a Sanitary Record.

“The sanitary Record  or Health Registration is a control mechanism that implies the verification of requirements associated with the quality and safety of the products of sanitary interest, with the aim of helping to protect the health of the Costa Rican population.

Among the products that require sanitary registration for their import, commercialization, and consumption are food, cosmetics, biomedical equipment and material, pesticides for domestic and professional use, hygienic products, dangerous chemical products, including inks used for tattoos, medicines and natural products.” (Source Ministry of Health of Costa Rica)

The classification depends on the characteristics of each product and is defined with the technical data sheet and / or safety sheet of the product.

In Costa Rica a Sanitary Record has four factors:

• Local Legal Representative/ Registration Holder: Local company or Costa Rican person
• International Legal Representative/ Owner Operator: The company authorized by the manufacturer to sell the product, when the company does not have a reseller, the manufacturer is legally responsible.
• Manufacturer (national or foreign)
• Distributor: company in Costa Rica authorized by the local legal representative,

In addition, once the Sanitary Record is approved, it is valid for 5 years and can be renewed for 5 more years.

Registration requirements vary depending on the classification that is assigned and sometimes (food, cosmetics, and medical equipment) vary if the product is of national or foreign manufactured origin.

Besides being a legal requirement, here are some additional benefits of having a sanitary record:

In the first place, it assures customers of the quality of the products that are marketed, an approved sanitary registry guarantees that the quality standards are met to be used by human beings.

Second, it gives confidence to the consumer, since it has the backing of an entity that ensures the safety and health of people.

Third, your product demonstrates that it is safe to manufacture and that your standards are high.

Finally, it will allow you to expand your business and enter any market and market your product without fear.

In relation to Biomedical Equipment and Material there are also some additional benefits:

• Exoneration: The importation of some medical devices allows the right to exonerate the medical devices that are included in the respective regulation.
• Government Tenders: Most of the institutions request the presentation of the Approved Sanitary Registry to be eligible.

In conclusion, it is important to guarantee the quality and use of products that require sanitary records.

If you sell medical equipment, food, cosmetics, or chemical products and you want to obtain your Sanitary Registration with the Costa Rican Ministry of Health, we at SOLUMARK® can help. We have more than 10 years of experience and we work professionally and confidentially with each client. We are characterized by efficiency, professionalism, and speed in the process of obtaining registrations for our clients. It will be our pleasure to serve you.