The Government of Costa Rica announced on March 27 a progressive ban on the agricultural use of the pesticide fipronil, setting a 24-month deadline for its complete elimination. The decision follows technical evidence indicating risks to human health, the environment, and pollinators that are important for food security.
The new regulation introduces a gradual process for withdrawing fipronil from all stages including registration, importation, manufacturing, commercialization, and use. This approach aims to provide clear conditions for the agricultural sector and ensure a predictable transition away from the pesticide.
Exceptions will only be made in cases of phytosanitary emergencies and must be approved by relevant authorities based on technical criteria. There is also an obligation to report existing stocks of fipronil and comply with management guidelines during the transition period. Failure to do so may result in confiscation of products.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Víctor Carvajal Porras said this measure addresses the need for safer and more sustainable production methods. “Prohibiting fipronil in agricultural use is not only a step forward for sensitive sectors such as beekeeping; it is also a step towards productivity and sustainability for farmers themselves, since we are taking this step thanks to the introduction of new molecules—something that has been demanded by producers for many years,” Carvajal Porras said.
Minister of Health Mary Munive Angermüller said this action marks progress in protecting public health and the environment. “This decision represents a firm step toward protecting population health and the environment by reducing exposure to substances with proven risks. The progressive elimination of fipronil responds to technical criteria and our country’s commitment to food security, pollinator protection, and transitioning toward more sustainable agricultural practices,” Munive Angermüller said.
Franz Tattenbach Capra, Minister of Environment and Energy, explained that studies conducted by MINAE-Digeca demonstrated unacceptable risks posed by fipronil even at low recommended doses in crops—not only to bees but also birds and aquatic organisms. “Based on this technical information,” Tattenbach Capra said, “we are announcing today our decision to gradually prohibit fipronil nationwide… Within one year it will be prohibited to import or manufacture substances containing this active ingredient; within two years its application will be banned across all crops.” He noted that these steps were developed collaboratively among MINAE (Ministry of Environment), MAG (Ministry of Agriculture), and MINSA (Ministry of Health).
With these measures Costa Rica moves forward in reducing hazards linked with highly dangerous pesticides while reaffirming its commitment to balancing sustainability with competitiveness.
