Recent Sanitary Regulation Updates in El Salvador
The dynamism that characterizes the commercial activity requires us to be attentive to regulatory changes that may impact the business, particularly those products that are regulated. Below, we share recent changes that affect the commercialization of regulated products in El Salvador:
Beef Imports
Last June 2022, the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, approved with 64 votes, to reform the Special Transitory Law to Combat Price Inflation of Basic Products, and incorporated beef in the list of products exempt from import taxes. These provisions will be in force until March 31st, 2023.
Products Exempt from the National Drug Administration’s visa requirement
On July 6th, 2022, the General Directorate of Customs published Informative Bulletin No. DGA-020-2022, which establishes the products that do not require a visa from the National Directorate of Medicines for their importation. The list includes products that had already been previously established as exempt from the need to have an import permit, or visa, from the aforementioned regulatory authority, and includes others. The following is a link to the list for further reference: https://sitio.aduana.gob.sv/boletines/
Mutual Recognition of Food and Beverages Manufactured in the European Union, United Kingdom, and Ireland
Within the framework of the Customs Union and the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union and the United Kingdom, in accordance with the provisions of Article 305, paragraph 2, products originating in the European Union and the United Kingdom that already have a Sanitary Registration in a State Party to the Customs Union (Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua or Costa Rica) may choose to request authorization for its commercialization in El Salvador, through Mutual Recognition, instead of the traditional sanitary registration process.
Fermina Bolaños
fermina.bolanos@garciabodan.com
Senior Associate
García & Bodán
El Salvador