Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica is updating its labeling requirements for raw meat and edible organs, extending the rules to products sold both in packages and over the counter.
The reform, promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), is part of technical regulation RTCR 512:2023.
It will take effect one year after publication in La Gaceta, the country’s official journal. Until then, the existing Executive Decree No. 33744 remains in force.
A key change is that thawed meat must be identified as such. The regulation also sets out requirements for declaring ingredients, potential allergens or substances that may cause food hypersensitivity, additives, batch information, expiration dates and label language.
It includes specific provisions for edible organs and uses Costa Rica’s descriptive guide to beef and pork cuts as a reference, aiming to standardize how cuts are identified.
Labels must also provide information including the country of origin, cut, animal species, expiration date, storage conditions, and price per kilogram. Sellers must disclose whether meat has been marinated, seasoned, or tenderized.
Analysis: More information, broader coverage
The most notable shift is the reach of the requirements. By covering meat sold at counters as well as packaged products, the update aims to make comparable information available regardless of how a customer buys it. That may help shoppers distinguish between products and give businesses a clearer set of labeling criteria.
The expanded disclosures also matter because some characteristics may not be apparent from the meat itself. Whether it has been thawed or treated, for example, can influence a shopper’s choice and how the product should be handled. Requiring that information on the label makes transparency a standard obligation rather than something customers must ask a retailer to clarify.
Enforcement is divided between the two agencies. The MEIC will oversee labeling and consumer-facing information, while the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), under the MAG, will supervise matters tied to species, cut, origin and traceability. That division assigns consumer information and product identification to different authorities, while requiring coordination across the same supply chain.
The one-year transition gives retailers, suppliers and regulators time to adjust before the new rules take effect. The practical test will be whether information is consistently visible and understandable across different points of sale—not just whether it appears on a label.