weighted score 2.6 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Costa Rica
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Costa Rica-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
3
Documented exploitation of Nicaraguan migrant workers on agricultural plantations. Coffee, banana, and pineapple sectors at elevated risk. ILAB listings for sugarcane and coffee.
Worker rights & FOA
3
Core ILO conventions ratified. Freedom of association legally protected. Labour law enforcement stronger than regional peers but inconsistent in rural agricultural areas.
OHS & audit transparency
3
Occupational health and safety framework adequate by Central American standards. Third-party audit access generally available. Free trade zone manufacturers typically maintain international audit standards.
Food & product safety
2
Medical device sector operates to FDA-compliant standards. Agricultural exports (bananas, pineapples, coffee) meet EU phytosanitary requirements. Low RASFF alert rate relative to export volume.
Environmental & regulatory
2
Forest cover doubled since 1983. 98% renewable electricity. Payments for ecosystem services programme internationally recognised. Strong environmental governance by regional standards.
Governance & anti-corruption
3
TI CPI 2024: 54/100. Strongest governance in Central America. Independent judiciary. Functioning democratic institutions with regular peaceful transfers of power.
Tariff & preferential access
2
EU-Central America Association Agreement provides preferential tariff access. US-CAFTA-DR in force. Low effective duty rates for key export categories.
Non-tariff barriers
2
No significant non-tariff barriers for key export sectors. Medical devices meet FDA and EU MDR requirements. Agricultural exports comply with EU phytosanitary standards.
Supply chain traceability
3
Free trade zone manufacturers maintain reasonable traceability. Agricultural supply chains — particularly smallholder coffee and pineapple — have more limited traceability beyond first tier.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Forced labour risk
- Forced Labour score of 3 reflects documented exploitation of Nicaraguan migrant workers on agricultural plantations — particularly in coffee, banana, and pineapple sectors. These workers face wage theft, document retention, and unsafe housing conditions.
- ILO conventions
- Costa Rica has ratified core ILO conventions including C087 (Freedom of Association) and C098 (Right to Organise). Labour law framework is among the strongest in Central America, though enforcement in rural agricultural areas is inconsistent.
- Governance baseline
- Strongest governance framework in Central America. TI Corruption Perceptions Index score of 54/100 — moderate by global standards but the highest in the sub-region. Independent judiciary and functioning democratic institutions.
Environmental & Regulatory
Environmental & Regulatory
- Forest cover recovery
- Costa Rica's forest cover has approximately doubled since 1983 — from ~26% to over 50% — through active reforestation policy and payments for ecosystem services. The Environmental score of 2 reflects this strong environmental governance track record.
- EU-CA FTA tariffs
- EU-Central America Association Agreement provides preferential tariff access. Tariff score of 2 reflects low effective duty rates for Costa Rican exports entering the EU market.
- Medical device standards
- Medical devices manufactured in Costa Rica's free trade zones meet FDA quality management standards (ISO 13485, 21 CFR 820). Products are exported to the US and EU with established regulatory compliance pathways.