Technical regulations on the "General Principles of Good Food Manufacturing Practices" have been updated.
In December 2013, the Institute of Technical Standards of Costa Rica (Inteco) updated and approved a tool which establishes the controls and requirements for all processes in the food manufacturing chain.
From a press release issued by the Institute of Technical Standards of Costa Rica (Inteco):
The decree which regulates the sale of food within the public schools, forced the food industry in Costa Rica to adapt its product lines.
Businesses in the sector suggest that changes also respond to the global trend towards healthier food consumption, but the Regulations for the Operation and Administration Services of Cafeterias in public schools, in effect since January of last year, force greater dynamism in these changes.
The Colombian group Nutresa will invest $3.4 million in improvements at its plants "Galletas Pozuelo" (cookies) and "Compañía Nacional de Chocolates" (chocolate).
The group has earmarked some $16 million for infrastructure since their arrival in Costa Rica in 2004 when it acquired the plant from the multinational Nestle.
From Colombia, Beatriz Acevedo, communications manager of the company, told EF, "...
The scramble to gain ground in Europe has inspired Grupo Pro to broaden its production capacity in Ciudad Colón.
The group hopes to have its new machinery in place by next November so that it can manufacture the products it wants to sell in Europe.
"The increase in fuel prices and the rise in price of 150 percent in primary products is affecting our business," said Reinaldo Brenes, sales manager for Grupo Pro.