1 Costa Rica Country Profile
Generic Information
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around 4.9 million, in a land area of 51,060 square kilometres (19,714 square miles), over 300,000 live in the capital and largest city, San José with a population of an estimated 333,980 in 2015.
Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a generic country overview, please consult the following sources:
COSTA RICA Wikipedia Country Information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica
COSTA RICA IMF Country Information http://www.imf.org/en/Countries/CRI
COSTA RICA Economist Intelligence Unit Information* http://country.eiu.com/costa-rica
(*note - this is a paid service)
Humanitarian Info
Costa Rica World Food Programme Information http://www1.wfp.org/countries
Costa Rica UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Information https://www.unocha.org/rolac
Facts and Figures
Costa Rica Wolfram Alpha Information http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=COSTA+RICA
Costa Rica World Bank Information http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/costarica
Costa Rica Population Information http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/costa-rica-population/
1.1 Costa Rica Humanitarian Background
Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
Natural Disasters |
||
---|---|---|
Type |
Occurs |
Comments / Details |
Drought |
YES |
North Zone |
Earthquakes |
YES |
Costa Rica is subject to intense and continuous geological activity due to proximity to several geological fault lines. Historical data from previous earthquakes:
|
Epidemics |
NO |
|
Extreme Temperatures |
NO |
|
Flooding |
YES |
Heavy rains in Costa Rica isthmus can trigger floods and may force evacuations immediately, especially on risk-affected areas. |
Insect Infestation |
YES |
Dengue / Chingunguya / SIKA |
Mudslides |
YES |
Related to flooding observations. |
Volcanic Eruptions |
YES |
Costa Rica has 6 active volcanoes and another 61 dormant or extinct ones meaning volcanic activity is a regular feature. Arenal volcano is the most active. Other recent activity also to mention is Turrialba Volcano (2016). Fumaroles activity (smoke and gas that often includes carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulphide) remains constant from the highest peak. Volcanoes:
|
High Waves / Surges |
YES |
Please refer to daily wave forecast. |
Wildfires |
YES |
|
High Winds |
YES |
|
Other Comments |
|
|
Man-Made Issues |
||
Civil Strife |
NO |
|
International Conflict |
NO |
|
Internally Displaced Persons |
NO |
|
Refugees Present |
YES |
Refugees coming from Cuba since 2015 and huge migration to the country from Venezuela due to the ongoing situation there. |
Landmines / UXO Present |
NO | |
Other Comments |
|
For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile.
Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities
Seasonal Effects on Transport |
||
---|---|---|
Transport Type |
Time Frame |
Comments / Details |
Primary Road Transport |
March to December |
Primary Roads can be affected by climate or the mpact of heavy rains. These include primary roads such as Pan-American Roads and alternate roads. |
Secondary Road Transport |
March to December |
|
Rail Transport |
||
Air Transport |
January to December |
Juan Santamaria Airport can be affected mainly by volcanic fumarole activity and less frequently by foggy weather as a secondary reason. |
Waterway Transport |
Costa Rica Logistics Sector Working Group – UNETE
(United Nations Emergency Team)
In Costa Rica, instead of a Logistics Cluster, there are various Sectorial Groups as part of a UN logistics response. The United Nations System responds to the government's need through United Nations Emergency Team (UNETE), which is an inter-agency response group. Extended UNETE includes national or international NGOs as part of the Humanitarian Response network.
Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling |
||
---|---|---|
Activity Type |
Time Frame |
Comments / Details |
Storage |
None |
|
Handling |
None |
|
Other |
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
Government
The National Commission for the Prevention of Risks and Care of Emergencies (Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias - CNE), is the governmental institution responsible for emergency support purposes under Costa Rica’s Law No. 8488 (Ley Nacional de Emergencias y Prevención de Riesgos N° 8488).
CNE is the maximum body attached to the Ministry of Presidency, with instrumental legal capacity for the management and administration of budget and for the investment of its resources, with assets and budgets.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: HQ staff will input a link to section 4.1 Government Contact List here.
Also refer to additional Government Contacts using document: Assignment of Subjects and Departments, Agencies and other Public Bodies.
Humanitarian Community
UN entities with active offices in Costa Rica: UNRCO, FAO, IMF, IOM, ISA, PAHO/WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNDSS, UN Environment CEP, UN Environment, Caribbean Sub Regional Office, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank.
International Organizations with based offices and activities within Costa Rica:
- Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados
- Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica
- Banco Interamericano para el Desarrollo
- Banco Mundial
- Centro Agronómico y Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza
- Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja
- Confederación de Cooperativas del Caribe y Centroamérica
- Consejo Monetario Centroamericano
- Corporación Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegación Aérea
- Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
- Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales
- Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia
- Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública
- Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas
- Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura
- Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos
- Instituto Interamericano para la Asistencia Democrática y Electoral
- Instituto Internacional de Recursos Genéticos de Plantas IPGRI e INIBAP
- Instituto Latinoamericano de las Naciones Unidas para la Prevención del Delito y el Tratamiento del Delincuente
- La Corporación Interamericana de Inversiones
- Oficina de Servicios para Proyectos Organización de Naciones Unidas
- Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria
- Organización Iberoamericana de Seguridad Social
- Organización Internacional del Trabajo
- Organización Internacional para las Migraciones
- Organización Meteorológica Mundial
- Organización Panamericana de la Salud - Organización Mundial de la Salud (OPS / OMS)
- Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura
- Organización de las Naciones Unidas para La Agricultura y la Alimentación
- Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura
- Organización de los Estados Americanos
- Organización para los Estudios Tropicales
- Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo
- Secretaría Ejecutiva del Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano
- Sede Académica de Costa Rica de la Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales
- Universidad para la Paz
- Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza y los Recursos Naturales
- Unión Postal Universal
- Agencia de Cooperación Internacional de Corea / Korean International Cooperation Agency
- Agencia de Cooperación Internacional del Japón
- Consejería de Proyectos para Refugiados Latinoamericanos
- Convenio Costa Rica-Liechtenstein
- Convenio Suizo-Costarrricense
- Cooperación Técnica Alemana
- Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda
- Federacion Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y Media Luna Roja
- Fondo de Población de las Naciones Unidas UNFPA-FNUAP Oficina Regional para Centroamérica
- Fundación Friedrich Ebert
- Fundación Konrad Adenauer
- Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Cordillera Volcánica Central
- GIZ -Convenio Costarricense-Alemán,
- Habitat para la Humanidad
- Instituto Humanista para la Cooperación de los Países en Desarrollo (HIVOS)
- Misión de Cooperación Cultural Francesa
- Misión de Cooperación Española
- Misión de Cooperación de Suecia
- S.O.S. Kinderdorf International
- Secretaría General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos
- Servicio de Intercambio Académico Alemán
- Visión Mundial
See the United Nations in Costa Rica website for more information: https://www.un.int/costarica/
For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Costa Rica Humanitarian Agency Contact List
1.2 Costa Rica Regulatory Departments & Quality Control
Regulatory Departments and Institutions:
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención
de Emergencias:
National Institution that rectors all matters of disaster prevention and emergency care. Focal Institution for planning development and budgeting regarding prevention and risk mitigation.
https://cne.go.cr
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal -
SENASA:
Institution in charge of providing quality services for the livestock sector. Also delegated to facilitate, monitor, operate and trade in animal products and livestock products in/out national/international markets. Policies for import and export trade relies on SENASA.
http://www.senasa.go.cr/
- Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado
It fulfils the functions of surveillance and pest control throughout the country. Performs the registration of substances, equipment and organisms for agricultural use.
https://www.sfe.go.cr
- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y
Culto
The functions of this ministry is to direct foreign relations, celebrate treaties and promulgate and execute them once approved by the Legislative Assembly. It also receives Heads of State representatives, diplomatic representatives and to admit nation’s consuls.
- Ministerio de Salud
- Dirección General de Aviación Civil
Plans, regulates and promotes civil aviation services in Costa Rica.
http://www.dgac.go.cr/
- Dirección General de Migración y
Extranjería
Institution body under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the aim of promoting immigration, regulating it and establishing control measures for it, under the observation of international conventions, for the knowledge and study of everything related to migration.
http://migracion.go.cr/
- Ministerio de Seguridad Pública
Major institution which maintains public order, prevents criminal and vandal acts, and preserves and maintains sovereignty.
- Dirección General de Aduanas
Regulates the entry and exit of merchandise, vehicles and units of transport from the national territory. It is in charge of all aspects of customs clearance. Dirección General de Aduanas is part of the Ministerio de Hacienda.
For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contacts
1.3 Costa Rica Customs Information
Customs services in Costa Rica are part of the Ministry of Finance. For more information on the structure and organigram of the Customs Service, please use the following link:
http://www.hacienda.go.cr/contenido/284-servicio-nacional-de-aduanas
Duties and Tax Exemption
For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below:
INSERT LINK to the government contact list. Create the contact list by completing the 'Annex 2.1: Government Contact List' template
For more information regarding customs processes in Costa Rica, please check the following link:
http://www.hacienda.go.cr/contenido/13227-informacion-de-interes-para-tramites-aduaneros
Emergency Response:
Based on Costa Rica's regulations, all items considered as relief are: goods such as vehicles or other transportation units; food products; medicines; clothing; dormitory-hospital or supply stores; prefabricated houses; machinery; and special equipment (mobile or not) for medical use, construction, supply, rescue, communication and transport. These shipments are intended to help victims of natural catastrophes or similar disasters, which affect communities.
The only allowed consignee for relief items is the Government of Costa Rica or the designated administrative body Consejo Nacional de Emergencias (CNE).
When appropriate, the customs authority may authorize the entry of relief consignments consigned to social interest entities, charities, non-governmental organizations, associations or foundations of public interest, at the time established by the customs management, with endorsement of the goods in favour of the CNE.
In the table below, it is stated which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones.
Agreements / Conventions Description |
Ratified by Country? (Yes / No) |
---|---|
WCO (World Customs Organization) member |
YES 29 AUG 01 |
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention |
NO |
OCHA Model Agreement |
N/A |
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations) |
YES 20 JUN 03 |
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration) |
N/A |
Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response):
Note: Exemption regime does not exist under a NON-EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
Only the CNE can use the exemption regime established under emergency declaration. There must be a causal link between the event producing the emergency as well as the works, goods and services that are intended to be acquired. Also only the CNE can carry out the management of international aid, agencies and countries, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The CNE coordinates the international assistance that Costa Rica can offer to other nations that have an emergency declared in their territories, when as agreed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Please refer to Law 8488, following the link below:
http://diee.mep.go.cr/normativa/ley-8488-ley-nacional-de-emergencias-y-prevencion-del-riesgo
Costa Rica offers a wide variety of industrial parks and office centres, both within and outside of the Metro Areas, with features that offer the right conditions to the required need.
Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status |
---|
United Nations Agencies |
N/A |
Non Governmental Organizations |
N/A |
Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:
Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure |
---|
Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation) |
Please refer to requirements and obligations established in Law No. 7210 |
Process to be followed (step by step or flowchart) |
|
Exemption Certificate Document Requirements
Note: For humanitarian aid in the case of food or medicines and all goods subject to sanitary conditions. Customs will coordinate with the appropriate authorities so that the relevant controls can be carried out more expeditiously prior to authorizing the release of these goods.
Additional Note: Organizations, NGOs or companies that wish to opt for this incentive and benefits regime must comply with the requirements and obligations established in Law No. 7210
Customs Clearance
General Information
Customs Information |
|
---|---|
Document Requirements |
For each of the shipments, the Comision Nacional de Emergencia submits in writing to the customs office of entry, a list in which all the goods declared as distress shipments are consigned. |
Embargoes |
None |
Prohibited Items |
N/A |
General Restrictions |
Mandatory consignee: Government / Comision Nacional de Emergencias. |
Customs Clearance Document Requirements
Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Food |
NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education) |
Medicines |
Vehicles & Spare Parts |
Staff & Office Supplies |
Telecoms Equipment |
D&T Exemption Certificate |
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Invoice |
YES. Recommended as supporting document for CNE |
YES. Recommended as supporting document for CNE |
YES. Recommended as supporting document for CNE |
YES. Recommended as supporting document for CNE |
YES. Recommended as supporting document for CNE |
|
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
YES. Original |
YES. Original |
YES. Original |
YES. Original |
YES. Original |
|
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
YES. Letter as supporting document in order to present it to CNE and Customs |
YES. Letter as supporting document in order to present it to CNE and Customs |
YES. Letter as supporting document in order to present it to CNE and Customs |
YES. Letter as supporting document in order to present it to CNE and Customs |
YES. Letter as supporting document in order to present it to CNE and Customs |
|
Packing Lists |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
|
Phytosanitary Certificate |
||||||
Other Documents |
Letter addressed to Customs from Comision Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) |
Letter addressed to Customs from Comision Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) |
Letter addressed to Customs from Comision Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) |
Letter addressed to Customs from Comision Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) |
Letter addressed to Customs from Comision Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) |
|
Additional Notes |
||||||
For each of the shipments, the Comision Nacional de Emergencia submits in writing to the customs office of entry, a list in which all the goods declared as distress shipments are consigned as a matter of Humanitarian Aid or Emergency Relief. |
Transit Regime
For cargo transit regime or humanitarian aid, the application for entry and the list of goods is necessary. Customs will draw up and sign an act to authorize the entry of relief shipments. This act shall include the documents that support the entry of such shipments.
It will be down to the Customs Authority to keep a copy of all the documents that served as support for the authorization of the entry of relief shipments based in the RES-DGA-047-2009 Dated February 13th, 2009.