G/TBT/N/CRI/190  
14 December  2020 
(20-9013) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
1. Notifying Member : COSTA RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible:  
Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio  (Ministry of the Economy, Industry and 
Trade)  
Dirección de Calidad  (Quality Directorate)  
Departamento Reglamentación Técnica  (Technical Regulation Department)  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 -1479 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:  
Información de Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio  (TBT Enquiry Point)  
Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio , MEIC (Ministry of the Economy, Industry 
and Trade)  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 -1479 
Email: crotc@meic.go.cr ; msolera@meic.go.cr  
Website: http://www.reglatec.go.cr  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ ], 2.10.1 [X], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable) : 71.100.70 
(ICS)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document : RTCR 501 :2020 
Productos cosméticos, alcohol en gel para manos . Especificaciones y requisitos para el 
registro sanitario (Costa Rican Technical Regulation (RTCR) No. 501:2020 : "Cosmetics, 
hand sanitizer . Specifications and requirements for sanitary registration" ) (3 pages, in 
Spanish)  
6. Description of content : The purpose of the notified Technical Regulation is to establish 
the product, packaging and labelling technical specifications for hand-sanitizing solution s. 
This Technical Regulation applies to hand sanitizer that is produced, imported or marketed 
within the national territory . It does not apply to gel products that are not intended for 
use on hands, regardless of whether they contain alcohol.  G/TBT/N/CRI/190  
- 2 - 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable : During the COVID -19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has 
reiterated the importance of handwashing as a public health measure to prevent and 
reduce infections associated with the virus that causes COVID -19 and with other 
pathogenic microorganisms . Therefore, handw ashing with soap and water should become 
a natural habit and  incorporated  as a good practice  that is  needed on a permanent basis 
to protect individual and  community  health . However, the use of  hand sanitizer, with an 
alcohol content of 60% or more , is cons idered to be an  alternative health measure to 
handwashing , in places where proper washing  is not possible . Protection of human health 
or safety  
8. Relevant documents:  
• Executive Decree No. 35031 -COMEX -S-MEIC of 2 5 July 2 008, published in La 
Gaceta  No. 30 of 12 February 2 009, publishing Resolución Nº 231 -2008 
(COMIECO -L): 
• Aprobación de Reglamentos Técnicos Centroamericanos Nº R TCA 71 .03.49:08, 
RTCA 71 .01.35:06, R TCA 71 .03.36:07, R TCA 71 .03.45:07 sobre Productos 
Cosméticos  
• Reglamento Técnico Centroamericano,  RTCA 71 .03.49:08 Productos 
Cosméticos . Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura para los Laboratorios Fabricantes 
de Productos Cosméticos.  
• Reglamento Técnico Centroamericano, R TCA 71 .01.35:06 Productos 
Cosméticos . Registro e Inscripción Sanitaria de Productos Cosm éticos.  
• Reglamento Técnico Centroamericano, R TCA 71 .03.36:07 Productos 
Cosméticos . Etiquetado de Productos Cosméticos.  
• Reglamento Técnico Centroamericano, R TCA 71 .03.45:07 Productos 
Cosméticos . Verificación de la Calidad.  
• Anexo 5 . Reconocimiento Mutuo de R egistro o Inscripción Sanitaria de Productos 
Cosméticos.  
9. Proposed date of adoption : Upon publication in the Official Journal, La Gaceta  
Proposed date of entry into force : 30 days after publication in the Official Journal, La 
Gaceta  
10. Final date for comments : 60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
Centro de Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio  (TBT Centre)  
Website: http://www.reglatec.go.cr  
WTO Contact Point: crotc@meic.go.cr ; msolera@meic.go.cr  
San José, Costa Rica  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 -1479 
Full text available online at:  
http://www.reglatec.go.cr/reglatec/principal.jsp  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/CRI/20_7632 _00_s.pdf