Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio (MEIC) — Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce, revealed that 100% of the outlet stores inspected in a recent nationwide operation were found to violate consumer protection regulations.
The operation, carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, covered 24 establishments located in Heredia, San José, Alajuela, and Cartago.
During the operation, led by MEIC Minister María del Milagro Solórzano León and Vice Minister Jorge Acuña Prado, the presence of clear and accessible information on prices, warranties, exchange policies, and the proper identification of used or refurbished products was verified.
Compliance with billing and labeling requirements in Spanish was also reviewed, as these are fundamental aspects for protecting consumer rights.
Among the main findings, the MEIC reported the absence of visible prices on products, a lack of information on exchange policies, and warranties that did not meet the minimum 30-business-day period stipulated by law.
Products with labels in languages other than Spanish were also found, as well as the sale of used, refurbished, or returned items without a proper indication of their condition. These practices affect consumers’ right to receive truthful and timely information, in accordance with the Law for the Promotion of Competition and Effective Consumer Protection (Law No. 7472).
The detailed analysis showed that in the area of warranties, 16 businesses (67%) did not detail the procedure for making them effective, 14 (58%) did not inform consumers about their rights during the warranty period, 13 (54%) did not clearly identify the covered product, 11 (46%) omitted the territorial scope, 10 (42%) did not indicate the validity period, and 4 (17%) did not identify the party responsible for fulfilling the warranty. Additionally, 17% of the inspected businesses offered used or refurbished products without informing the customer.
As a result, the MEIC notified the 24 inspected businesses with preventive measures, granting them a deadline to correct the violations.
After the deadline was met, 14 businesses had corrected all the violations, 6 had partially corrected them, and 4 did not respond or provide evidence of correction.
Unresolved cases will be reported to the National Consumer Commission (CNC), with potential fines ranging from ¢462,200 (US$1,018) to ¢18,488,000 (US$40,000).
The Fiscal Control Police, for its part, inspected 19 businesses to verify their registration with the Tax Administration, the issuance of sales receipts, and documentation regarding the legal importation of products. On this occasion, no tax or import irregularities were found.
The Ministry of Health inspected 13 outlets in Heredia, Alajuela, and Cartago, paying particular attention to product registration and labeling, as well as public health risks. A total of 117 units of products were seized, mostly unregistered biomedical equipment, and the corresponding health orders were issued.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to continuing operations to protect consumer rights and public health.
The Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce (MEIC) reminded the public that they can inquire about or report irregularities by calling the toll-free number 800-CONSUMO or visiting the Consumidor CR platform. The Ministry of Health has also set up the email address denuncias.minsa@misalud.go.cr to report potential health risks.