On July 21, 2025, El Salvador's Official Gazette published the Robotic Technologies Law, a new regulatory framework aimed at promoting the development and adoption of robotic technologies in commercial, service, healthcare, transportation, and public space activities. The law explicitly excludes their use in domestic, academic, or non-commercial entertainment contexts.
The law are implemented by the National Artificial Intelligence Agency (ANIA), responsible for issuing technical guidelines, classifying risks associated with these technologies, and establishing a national registry and codes of conduct for the sector.
Incentives and regulations
The new legislation includes tax incentives, the development of testing laboratories, and the integration of robotics into the education system, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Additionally, the government has committed to supporting pilot projects that promote national innovation in this field.
Stakeholders in the value chain, such as designers, developers, manufacturers, integrators, deployers, operators, and end users, are regulated according to their level of involvement and must comply with the technical safety standards established by ANIA. The agency also assesses the risk level of each operation (basic, intermediate, or high) based on the potential for physical harm posed by the robotic technologies.
The law recognizes international standards, including ISO/TS 15066 (collaborative robots), ISO 10218 (industrial robots), ISO 13482 (personal care robots), and IEC 611508 (functional safety).
Permitted uses and exclusions
According to the law, robotic technologies may only be used in the following areas:
- Healthcare: For the care of vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.
- Public spaces: In areas with general public access.
- Commercial and service activities: With direct interaction with the public.
- Transportation: For moving people or goods in public spaces.
However, the following are explicitly excluded from the scope of the law:
- Devices and technologies with permits or patents issued prior to the law.
- Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Academic prototypes that do not operate outside their institution.
- Building automation systems.
- Non-commercial, low-risk hobbyist activities.
