WTO notification · TBT
Costa RicaUpdated: check whether it is now adopted or in force
Official title
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications (16 pages, in Spanish)
Costa Rica issued an addendum on 28 October 2026 to the earlier TBT notification G/TBT/N/CRI/198. Addenda often report that a measure was adopted, changed, postponed or withdrawn. The measure was first notified on 28 July 2022. The comment period closed on 26 September 2022.
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Domestic refrigerating appliances
The comment period closed on 26 September 2022. You can still raise concerns about the measure with your country's WTO TBT enquiry point, quoting the document symbol G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.9; it can take them up with Costa Rica.
Find your country's enquiry point on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Latest notice (G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.9, 28 October 2026)
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
The notified Resolution grants normative equivalence between the standard 'ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Consumer Refrigeration Products, Version 5.0 and 5.1' and Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: 'Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications', for the requirements specified and test methods evaluated, pursuant to Executive Decrees No. 44395-MEIC, No. 44418-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE and No. 44855-MINAE, as well as INTECO Equivalence Criterion EQ 54-2026 and Technical Report DE-0201-2026 of the Energy Directorate, under the terms, scopes and safeguards set out in the aforementioned reports and the notified Resolution.__________1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified measure and/or interpretative guidance can be obtained.
The purpose of the notified Regulation is to establish the maximum energy consumption levels, test method, conformity assessment procedure and labelling for household refrigerators and freezers operated using hermetic motor-driven compressors, which are manufactured or marketed in, or imported into, the States Parties. It applies to household refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers of up to 1,104 litres (39 cubic feet) and household freezers of up to 850 litres (30 cubic feet) operated using hermetic motor-driven compressors, which are manufactured or marketed in, or imported into, the States Parties. Exceptions: a. Self-contained commercial refrigeration appliances. b. Wine coolers/chillers, water coolers and dispensers. G/TBT/N/CRI/198 - 2 - c. Household goods. d. Samples of no commercial value, depending on each State Party's procedure.
Every notice about this measure published here, newest first. Each one is the notifying member's own text.
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.9
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
The notified Resolution grants normative equivalence between the standard 'ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Consumer Refrigeration Products, Version 5.0 and 5.1' and Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: 'Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications', for the requirements specified and test methods evaluated, pursuant to Executive Decrees No. 44395-MEIC, No. 44418-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE and No. 44855-MINAE, as well as INTECO Equivalence Criterion EQ 54-2026 and Technical Report DE-0201-2026 of the Energy Directorate, under the terms, scopes and safeguards set out in the aforementioned reports and the notified Resolution.__________1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified measure and/or interpretative guidance can be obtained.
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.8
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
Pursuant to Executive Decree No. 44037-MINAE, Supplementary Regulations for the Implementation of Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 23.01.78:20: Electrical products. Inverter split-type, free air discharge, non-ducted air conditioners with variable refrigerant flow. Energy efficiency specifications, and Executive Decree No. 43616-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE 1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified measure and/or interpretative guidance can be obtained.G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.8- 2 - publishing Resolution No. 451-2021 (COMIECO-XCVIII), of 17 December 2021, and the Annex thereto, 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 23.01.78:20: Electrical products. Inverter split-type, free air discharge air conditioners with variable refrigerant flow', and the provisions of the first recital of the notified resolution, equivalence is granted for AHRI Standard 210/240-2024, together with the values contained in AHRI certificate 218083239, with Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 23.01.78:20, for the equipment indicated in this resolution.__________
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.7
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
Pursuant to Executive Decree No. 44037-MINAE, Supplementary Regulations for the Implementation of Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 23.01.78:20: Electrical products. Inverter split-type, free air discharge, non-ducted air conditioners with variable refrigerant flow. Energy efficiency specifications, and Executive Decree No. 43616-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE, publishing Resolution No. 451-2021 (COMIECO-XCVIII), of 17 December 2021, and the Annex 1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified measure and/or interpretative guidance can be obtained.G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.7- 2 - thereto, 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 23.01.78:20: Electrical products. Inverter split-type, free air discharge air conditioners with variable refrigerant flow', and the provisions of the first recital of the notified resolution, equivalence is granted for AHRI Standard 210/240-2017, together with the values contained in certificates AHRI 218137766, AHRI 218137767, AHRI 218137768 and AHRI 218137769, with Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) No. 23.01.78:20, for the equipment indicated in this resolution.__________
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.6
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
The request submitted by PSCR EXPORTADORA S.A. has been accepted, and an exemption from compliance with Technical Note No. 389 has been granted. This exemption from Technical Note No. 389 applies EXCLUSIVELY to the products specified and is valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of notification of this Resolution.__________1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified measure and/or interpretative guidance can be obtained.
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.5
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
An exemption from compliance with Technical Note No. 389 has been granted, as requested by the company PSCR EXPORTADORA S.A. This exemption from Technical Note No. 389 applies exclusively to the products covered by this Resolution.__________1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified measure and/or interpretative guidance can be obtained.
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.4
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
Pursuant to Decree No. 44395-MEIC, Decree No. 44418-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', Decree No. 44855-MINAE 'Supplementary regulations for the implementation of Central 1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final measure/change to the measure/interpretative guidance can be obtained.G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.4- 2 - American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', and the provisions of the first recital of the notified resolution, the requested equivalence is granted for standard 'ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Consumer Refrigeration Products Version 5.0' and 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications' and the annex thereto, which was made official through Decree No. 44418-MINAE.__________
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.3
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
Pursuant to Decree No. 44395-MEIC, Decree No. 44418-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', Decree No. 44855-MINAE 'Supplementary regulations for the implementation of Central 1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final measure/change to the measure/interpretative guidance can be obtained.G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.3- 2 -American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', and the provisions of the first recital of the notified resolution, the equivalence requested is granted for 'Mexican Official Standard NOM-015-ENER-2018: Energy Efficiency of Household Refrigerators and Freezers. Limits, test methods and labelling' and 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications' and the annex thereto.__________
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.1
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
Pursuant to Decree No. 44395-MEIC, Decree No. 44418-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', Decree No. 44855-MINAE 'Supplementary regulations for the implementation of Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', and the provisions of the first recital of the notified resolution, the normative equivalence requested is granted for the foreign standard 'CSA-C300-15, Energy performance and capacity of household refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, and wine chillers'. This equivalence criterion is associated with the equipment listed in Annex A to the resolution.__________
AddendumG/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.2
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications.
Pursuant to Decree No. 44395-MEIC, Decree No. 44418-COMEX-MEIC-MINAE 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', Decree No. 44855-MINAE 'Supplementary regulations for the implementation of Central 1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final measure/change to the measure/interpretative guidance can be obtained.G/TBT/N/CRI/198/Add.2- 2 - American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers', and the provisions of the first recital of the notified resolution, equivalence is granted for standard 'CSA-C300-15, Energy performance and capacity of household refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, and wine chillers' and 'Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications' and the annex thereto, which was made official through Decree No. 44418-MINAE.__________
Regular notificationG/TBT/N/CRI/198
Comment deadline: Closed on 26 September 2022
Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 97.01.81:22: Electrical products. Household refrigerators and freezers. Energy efficiency specifications (16 pages, in Spanish)
The purpose of the notified Regulation is to establish the maximum energy consumption levels, test method, conformity assessment procedure and labelling for household refrigerators and freezers operated using hermetic motor-driven compressors, which are manufactured or marketed in, or imported into, the States Parties. It applies to household refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers of up to 1,104 litres (39 cubic feet) and household freezers of up to 850 litres (30 cubic feet) operated using hermetic motor-driven compressors, which are manufactured or marketed in, or imported into, the States Parties. Exceptions: a. Self-contained commercial refrigeration appliances. b. Wine coolers/chillers, water coolers and dispensers. G/TBT/N/CRI/198 - 2 - c. Household goods. d. Samples of no commercial value, depending on each State Party's procedure.
Expodite writes its summary from the official record. The notification and the documents it notifies are on the WTO's own websites.
WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for commentsNew
Costa Rica notified this proposed SPS measure to the WTO on 28 October 2026. Comments are open until 27 December 2026.
Symbol: G/SPS/N/CRI/374Comments until 27 December 2026
WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for commentsNew
Costa Rica notified this proposed SPS measure to the WTO on 20 October 2026. Comments are open until 19 December 2026.
Symbol: G/SPS/N/CRI/373Comments until 19 December 2026
WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for commentsNew
Costa Rica notified this proposed SPS measure to the WTO on 20 October 2026. Comments are open until 19 December 2026.
Symbol: G/SPS/N/CRI/372Comments until 19 December 2026
WTO notificationSPSProposed measure, open for commentsNew
Costa Rica notified this proposed SPS measure to the WTO on 20 October 2026. Comments are open until 19 December 2026.
Symbol: G/SPS/N/CRI/371Comments until 19 December 2026
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