Brazil authorizes 40 pet food plants to export to Costa Rica

Brazil has authorized 40 Brazilian pet food plants to export to Costa Rica, expanding access for the national pet food industry to the Costa Rican market. The authorization was approved by the National Animal Health Service (Senasa) as part of the country’s new regulatory requirements, which now mandate specific authorization from the local sanitary authority for establishments exporting food and pet food.

Costa Rica’s pet food market is experiencing strong growth. Data from the 2024 National Household Survey (ENAHO) by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) show that 62.2% of households in the country have at least one dog or cat. As a result, the canine population is estimated at around 1.78 million animals, reinforcing the role of pet food as an essential item in the budgets of thousands of families.

This trend is also reflected in foreign trade. In 2025, Costa Rica imported about US$98 million in pet food, of which approximately US$2.8 million originated from Brazil, indicating potential to expand Brazil’s share of this market.

The new rules established by Costa Rica strengthen sanitary controls and seek to increase predictability and transparency in bilateral trade. In this context, Brazilian companies interested in exporting to the country must comply with the authorization requirements, which are now mandatory for market access.

The initiative is the result of technical cooperation between the sanitary authorities of both countries and reflects Costa Rica’s confidence in Brazil’s rigorous systems of quality control, traceability, and food safety. Expanding authorizations strengthens trade ties, creates new opportunities for the Brazilian pet food industry, and consolidates Brazil as a competitive and reliable supplier to the Costa Rican market.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture

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