Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormBottled (distilled spirit)
Industry PositionAlcoholic Beverage (Distilled Spirits)
Market
Flavored gin in Costa Rica is primarily an import-supplied distilled spirits category aligned with HS 220850 (gin and geneva). In 2023, Costa Rica’s recorded imports of HS 220850 were about USD 2.26 million, while exports were minimal (about USD 4.18 thousand), indicating a net-importer market position. The United Kingdom was the largest recorded supplier by import value in 2023, followed by the United States and several EU/LatAm origins. Market access and commercialization are tightly linked to compliance with Central American labeling requirements for distilled alcoholic beverages (Spanish labeling, mandatory declarations including alcohol strength, net content, ingredients, importer details, sanitary registration, warning legend, lot and expiry).
Market RoleNet importer (import-dependent consumer market)
Domestic RoleDomestic consumption market supplied mainly by imports of gin (HS 220850) under Costa Rica’s import/commercialization controls for alcoholic beverages.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Prepackaged bottled distilled spirit; label information must be clear, legible and indelible; minimum character height requirements apply under RTCA labeling rules.
- Each unit must carry an identifiable lot code marked/printed indelibly on the container.
Compositional Metrics- Alcohol content must be declared as “% Alc./vol.” (or equivalent), with optional additional declaration in “G.L.” (Gay Lussac).
- If the product is a mixture and contains multiple ingredients/additives, ingredients must be declared in descending order and additives (non-processing aids) must be declared.
Packaging- Labels must be in Spanish; if the original label is not Spanish, a complementary Spanish label must be added containing the mandatory information (RTCA 67.01.06:11).
- Mandatory declarations include: product name, alcohol content, net content, ingredients list (as applicable), manufacturer/packer/exporter (as applicable), and for imported products the importer/distributor name and address, sanitary registration number, warning legend, lot identification, and expiry date marking.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Foreign distillery/bottler → international freight → customs clearance and fiscal/health compliance checks → registered importer/distributor → domestic wholesale/retail/on-trade distribution
Temperature- Typically shipped and stored at ambient temperatures; avoid excessive heat exposure that can damage closures, labels and secondary packaging.
Shelf Life- Spirits are generally shelf-stable, but Costa Rica’s distilled-beverage labeling rules include expiry date marking requirements.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with Costa Rica’s distilled-alcohol labeling and commercialization controls (including Spanish labeling, mandatory declarations such as sanitary registration number, importer details, warning legend, lot and expiry marking) and/or lack of required importer fiscal registration can block customs clearance and legal commercialization.Before shipment, confirm importer enrollment under Law No. 8707 and run a label/pack copy check against RTCA 67.01.06:11 (including complementary Spanish label when needed) and ensure the specific SKU has a valid sanitary registration number to be printed on label/artwork.
Food Safety MediumCosta Rica has documented public-health incidents involving adulterated/counterfeit alcoholic beverages contaminated with methanol, creating heightened enforcement and reputational risk for brands if counterfeit product enters informal channels.Use tamper-evident packaging and controlled distribution, validate supply-chain custody through the registered importer/distributor, and cooperate with authorities/market surveillance if irregular product is detected.
Logistics MediumGlass-bottle breakage, leakage, and label damage during international transport can cause loss, relabeling costs, or non-compliance at point of sale if mandatory Spanish/RS information becomes unreadable.Specify export-grade secondary packaging, pallet protection, and humidity-resistant label materials/adhesives; conduct pre-shipment packaging drop/handling checks with the bottler.
FAQ
Is Costa Rica mainly an importer or exporter of gin (HS 220850)?Costa Rica is primarily an importer. In 2023, recorded imports of HS 220850 (gin and geneva) were about USD 2.26 million, while recorded exports were only about USD 4.18 thousand.
What label elements are mandatory for distilled alcoholic beverages like flavored gin in Costa Rica?Under RTCA 67.01.06:11 (as published in Costa Rica), the label must be in Spanish (or include a complementary Spanish label when the original is not Spanish) and must declare items such as the product name, alcohol content, net content, ingredients list when applicable, importer/distributor name and address for imported products, the sanitary registration number, a health warning legend about excessive alcohol consumption, lot identification, and expiry date marking.
Do importers of alcoholic beverages need a special registration in Costa Rica?Yes. Costa Rica created a fiscal register for importers, manufacturers, and distributors of alcoholic beverages (Law No. 8707). Entities that want to import or distribute alcoholic beverages at wholesale must be registered and use the assigned number on commercial invoices/receipts.