Costa Rica Imposes Phytosanitary Rules on Fresh Shallot Bulbs from Peru

Costa Rica has implemented strict phytosanitary measures for the importation of fresh shallot bulbs from Peru, establishing requirements for safe entry into the country for consumption under Regulation and proposing similar rules in a draft resolution under Regulation.

Compliance Requirements for Importing Fresh Shallot Bulbs (Allium ascalonicum) from Peru into Costa Rica

Costa Rica has established strict phytosanitary measures for the importation of fresh shallot bulbs (Allium ascalonicum) from Peru under Resolution No. 025-2026-CV-ARP-SFE¹. These measures are grounded in national and international legal frameworks to prevent the introduction of regulated pests and ensure agricultural biosecurity.

1. Legal and Regulatory Framework

The phytosanitary requirements are authorized under the following legal instruments:

• Constitution of Costa Rica (Article 50):

Mandates the protection of public health and agro-food security, requiring the state to safeguard environmental and agricultural integrity¹.

• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) (Law No. 1970):

Empowers Costa Rica to regulate the importation of plants and plant products to prevent pest introduction, including the authority to impose restrictions or requirements on imports¹.

• Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) (Law No. 7475-D):

Permits Costa Rica to adopt measures necessary to protect plant health, provided they are scientifically justified and non-discriminatory¹.

• Law No. 7664 (Plant Health Protection Law):

Establishes the Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE) as the competent authority to regulate plant imports, prevent pest introduction, and enforce phytosanitary measures¹.

• Article 2: Objectives include protecting plants from pest damage and preventing the spread of pests threatening food security¹.
• Article 5: Grants the SFE authority to implement technical, legal, and administrative measures to prevent pest introduction¹.
• Article 8: Authorizes the SFE to issue official phytosanitary documents and enforce compliance¹.
• Article 44: Requires phytosanitary measures to be science-based, non-discriminatory, and not disguised trade barriers¹.

• Decree No. 26647-MEIC-MAG:

Prohibits the importation of regulated plant products without prior phytosanitary requirements issued by the SFE¹.

• Decree No. 36801-MAG:

Designates the Unidad de Análisis de Riesgo de Plagas (Pest Risk Analysis Unit) within the SFE as the body responsible for establishing import requirements for regulated articles¹.

2. Phytosanitary Requirements for Shallot Bulbs from Peru

The following measures are mandatory for the importation of fresh shallot bulbs (Allium ascalonicum) from Peru under Resolution No. 025-2026-CV-ARP-SFE¹:

A. Pre-Import Requirements

1. Phytosanitary Certificate:
   • The shipment must be accompanied by an official phytosanitary certificate issued by Peru’s national plant protection organization (NPPO).
   • The certificate must include an additional declaration stating the consignment is free from:
   • Ditylenchus dipsaci (stem and bulb nematode)¹.
   • Puccinia allii (onion rust)¹.

1. Import Permit:
   • Importers must obtain a pre-import permit (Formulario de Requisitos Fitosanitarios) from the SFE prior to shipment¹.

1. Packaging and Labeling:
   • Bulbs must be properly packaged and labeled to prevent contamination¹.
   • Shipments must be free of:
   • Plant debris (e.g., leaves, stems).
   • Soil.
   • Snails and slugs¹.

B. Post-Arrival Requirements

1. Inspection and Sampling:
   • All consignments are subject to phytosanitary inspection and sampling upon arrival in Costa Rica¹.
   • The SFE may conduct laboratory analysis if pest risks are suspected.

1. Compliance with Additional Measures:
   • The SFE reserves the right to impose corrective actions (e.g., treatment, re-export, or destruction) if pests or non-compliance are detected¹.

3. Regulated Pests

The resolution specifically targets two pests identified as regulated in Costa Rica¹:

1. Ditylenchus dipsaci:
   • A nematode that infests bulbs, tubers, and aerial plant parts, causing stunting, deformation, and yield loss¹.
2. Puccinia allii:
   • A fungal pathogen causing onion rust, which reduces plant vigor and marketability¹.

These pests were identified through a pest risk analysis (PRA) conducted by the SFE, which assessed their presence in Peru and association with shallot bulbs¹.

4. Enforcement and Compliance

• Authority: The Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE), specifically the Unidad de Análisis de Riesgo de Plagas, is responsible for enforcing these requirements¹.
• Effective Date: The resolution entered into force upon signing (2026)¹.
• Transparency: Requirements were notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and relevant SFE departments to ensure compliance¹.
• Database Integration: Phytosanitary requirements are included in the SFE’s import requirements database¹.

5. Summary Table of Key Requirements

Summary Answer

Costa Rica’s Resolution No. 025-2026-CV-ARP-SFE establishes mandatory phytosanitary requirements for importing fresh shallot bulbs (Allium ascalonicum) from Peru, including a phytosanitary certificate with pest-free declarations, a pre-import permit, and packaging standards¹. These measures target regulated pests (Ditylenchus dipsaci and Puccinia allii) and are enforced by the Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE) under Law No. 7664 and international agreements (IPPC and SPS)¹. Shipments are subject to inspection and sampling upon arrival, and non-compliance may result in corrective actions¹. The resolution aligns with Costa Rica’s constitutional duty to protect public health and agro-food security¹. All cited sources (¹,²) are addressed in this response.

Sources

1. ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-03171 — Costa Rica https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CRI/26_03171_00_s.pdf
2. ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-02054 — Costa Rica https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CRI/26_02054_00_s.pdf