A dear reader named Marianna recently sent us the following question via email:

I worked for a Honduran wine company in Roatan, Honduras. Now the owner wants me to be the distributor here in Costa Rica. I tried to talk to the Health Ministry and they would not talk to me. How do we ship wine from Honduras and what is the process to get it here so I can begin selling it to stores and restaurants?

Another reader named Sharon left us a question on our Facebook wall:

What about shipping prescription medications from the US for vets and even vitamins? Also, at the Aerocasillas in the free trade zones in La Aurora, are there customs or duties that are added to shipments?

We will answer Marianna’s question first:

Hello Marianna, thanks for writing. We have already touched on a similar topic, specifically related to bringing frozen salmon and other food products through the Juan Santamaria (SJO) and Daniel Oduber Quiros (LIR) international airports. Some of the requirements mentioned in that article will apply in your case.

You mentioned approaching the Ministerio de Salud (Health Ministry) to no avail. You did the right thing, as your chosen import will need to get approval from that entity. It is unfortunate that they did not help you, as their involvement will be crucial for what you wish to accomplish. Your success in this endeavor will require you to navigate the intricate landscape of trade regulations, and to this extent you may wish to retain the services of an expert in import affairs, such as an attorney or a customs agent. We can discuss laws, regulations and business practices since it is our constitutional right to do so, but we cannot give you advice. That falls strictly under the purview of certain professionals.

Applicable Laws and Rules

The growing thirst for imports in Costa Rica does not seem to be letting up, particularly when it comes to cars and wine. Ticos are consuming wine in greater quantities, and judging by attendance figures and interest at events such as ExpoVino, the thirst is bound to continue. We can safely expect that more business people will engage in the importation of wine. In fact, the first full-scale winery is slated to open in Costa Rica soon. According to trade journal The Drinks Business, a winemaker from the Napa Valley plans to grow the following grapes in our higher altitude regions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah. The winemaker is Kerry Damskey, and he has been producing wine in California for over 30 years.

For those who are interested in getting into wine imports in Costa Rica, the pertinent laws that will apply include Law Number 7557 (General Customs Law) and Law Number 8707 (Fiscal Registry of Alcoholic Beverages). More specifically, the Technical Rules for Central American Trade (PDF), Annex 2, establishes the process for registration and inspection of foodstuffs, including wine.

A budding wine importer should either become familiar with the laws and regulations to follow, or at least seek the assistance of trade organizations such as Crecex (now known as the Costa Rican Chamber of Importers, Distributors and Representatives), Procomer, or legal practitioners such as Margarita Libby, a former Tica teen pop star and competitive Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do who helped write the customs law in El Salvador. Margarita is now an expert in trade matters, and a lot of the material discussed here comes from her website.

The fact that Marianna wishes to import wine from Honduras makes it a lot easier, since the Health Departments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hondurans, and Nicaragua have all signed off on RTCA 67.01.31:06, the rules that apply to the inspection and importation of wine and other products between those countries. There are certain requirements pertaining to the registration and inspection of wine, and those are shared between Costa Rica and Honduras.

Business Strategy

When it comes to importing foodstuffs, particularly wine, an importer should first determine if there is a potential market for it. In Marianna’s case we can safely assume the wine is delicious, and that Ticos will probably warm up to it since it comes from a sister Central American nation, but tastings are de rigueur. There is very little information regarding Honduran wine on the web sites where wine connoisseurs congregate; in fact, the only mention is a wine called La Libertad Robusto Zigarren, selling for $37 on Snooth, but no reviews.

Marianna can get a good idea of how her wine will fare among the palates of Ticos by securing a spot at the ExpoVino next year. In the meantime, she can offer tastings to the local restaurant and retail stores that sell wine. The process of becoming a registered importer of alcoholic beverages is bound to take some effort, so it would be a good idea to test the waters prior to tackling such activity. Getting a few sample bottles of wine for tasting and exhibition purposes would be a lot easier to start off with would be a lot easier, and it makes better sense from a business point of view.

One way to bring a few wine bottles from Honduras for tasting here without having to worry about taxes or health permits would be to somehow register them at the duty-free shop in the Tocontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa. That would shift the burden of import and customs to the winemaker, and it may even make it easier for future clearance here, plus it would open up opportunities for international travelers to get to know the wine. Duty-free shops at airports are great for international marketing.

Tax-Exempt Imports of Commercial Wine Samples

Up to $200 worth of wine can be imported as samples, exempt from import taxes, as long at the bottles meet the following requirements:

-A completed request form that can be obtained from Procomer or the Health Ministry
-A certificate from the country of origin that the wine is sold and distributed at the retail level
-A certificate from the country of origin that the wine has met the local Health Ministry requirements
-A label that indicates “Sample Only-Not for Sale”

The request form from Procomer or the Health Ministry asks for certain data from the person collecting the wine, such as identification number, origin information, product info, as well as when and where the tasting will take place. According to Procomer, the process takes about 10 days.

Using Aerocasillas or Other Customs Agents

Here we get to answer Sharon’s question as well. When it comes to importing wine and medications for personal use, Aerocasillas and other customs agents can handle the clearing of the products for a fee. Aerocasillas is a mail forwarding company that offers custom clearing services as well.

According to Aerocasillas’ web page the process for clearing wine that is shipped to Costa Rica for personal use takes between 5 to 7 days. The cost of the customs clearing service is $10, and it will require certain documents to be filed, such as a power of attorney authorizing Aerocasillas to act as customs agent, a completed request form from Procomer or the Health Ministry, an original sales receipt bearing the name of the person receiving the wine, and a bill of lading.

Aerocasillas can also be used to receive prescription medications, like Sharon asked. The process is similar to that of clearing customs for wine destined for personal use, except for a few additional forms required. A copy of the sales receipt, a copy of the identification document, a written request addressed to Customs or the Health Ministry from either the patient, a relative or a legal guardian. An acknowledgment from a physician in Costa Rica who certifies the diagnosis, prescription and treatment is also required.

Vitamins and natural health products are on the Customs’ list of prohibited items, and thus Aerocasillas will not handle them. Many countries have similar prohibitions; an unfortunate side effect from the War on Drugs.

Companies that are registered to do business at the Free Trade Zones are exempt from many obligations, including paying import taxes on certain items. An item shipped from overseas to a business entity within a Free Trade Zone may be exempt from import taxes, but it must be shipped to that company and picked up by an agent thereof. The Aerocasillas in La Aurora de Heredia handles a lot of packages for the Free Trade Zones companies -most of them foreign- but they will collect import taxes on behalf of Customs whenever applicable.

We hope these answers are helpful. Good luck with the wine venture, Marianna, and  don’t forget to send us a couple of bottles once your business is up and running.