The State Phytosanitary Service (SFE), which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), initiated a pilot scheme using two scanners donated by the Government of the Republic of China, which allow detecting products and sub-products of plant origin. The scanners will also be used to collaborate with national security government agencies to detect drugs and other customs goods.
The scanners were moved from the Ministry of Finance, which had them in custody since 2009, to the MAG late last year and have been tried out by the SFE since then at Puerto Limon, from where they will be taken to the border with Panama, which has a large number of goods from numerous destinations.
The scanners use X-ray technology allowing an inspector to check the contents of the vehicles, from the cabin to the containers with the merchandise being transported without having to open them.
This non-intrusive technology is expected to reduce inspection time in these entry points, as an inspection that could take 4 to 5 hours can be done in 3 to 5 minutes.
Phytosanitary control posts are a barrier to pests that threaten the country. Costa Rica has a control post in Puerto Limon and Caldera, the Daniel Oduber and Juan Santamaria Airports, and at the borders in Penas Blancas, Tablillas, and Paso Canoas.
The country expects it will have more scanners to cover the rest of the checkpoints in the near future, which would allow it to achieve greater flexibility and efficiency during inspections.