Category Archives: Blog

Obligations for the Management of Construction and Demolition Waste

Autor https://blplegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Articulo-Hidrogeno-Verde_FOTO.png Luis Palacios Director Costa Rica E-mail The construction industry is one of the most environmentally impactful sectors worldwide, primarily due to the large volume of waste it generates. However, in Costa Rica, there has historically been a regulatory gap concerning the management of construction waste, as governmental oversight has traditionally been reserved for…

Major Changes to El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law

On January 30, 2024, Legislative Decree No. 199 was published in the Official Gazette, introducing amendments to the Bitcoin Law (the “Reform”).  The primary goal of the Reform is to enhance Bitcoin’s implementation in response to the people’s needs.  The most significant amendments include:  Legal Tender Status: References to Bitcoin as a legal tender have…

Constitutional Chamber Expands Maternity Leave Rights in Same-Sex Parent Families in Costa Rica

The Constitutional Chamber, through ruling number 92412-2024, has resolved an action of unconstitutionality filed against Article 95 of the Labor Code and Article 41 of the Law on Public Employment. The ruling establishes that these articles violated the fundamental rights of equality and special protection of the family, women, and minors by not considering the…

Business Opportunity: New Call for 100 Megawatts of Private Solar Generation in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) has announced that in March 2025, it will launch a new call to incorporate 100 megawatts of private solar generation into the national electricity system. This initiative aims to strengthen the energy matrix and advance decarbonization and sustainability goals. The call will be exclusively open to solar projects…

New Guidelines in El Salvador for Foreign Investors

On February 14. 2025, Agreement No. 096 of the Attorney General Office was published in the Official Gazette No. 446, whereby the Guidelines for the Determination of Risk Categories for Clients to Facilitate la Opening of Bank Deposit Accounts and the Performance of Financing Transactions involving Foreign Investors and Salvadorans located abroad (“Guidelines”), which are…

New Technical Regulation on Hemp and Derivative Products in Costa Rica

On February 20, 2025, La Gaceta published Technical Regulation RTCR 511:2023, which establishes guidelines for sanitary products containing hemp and its derivatives. This regulation sets requirements for importation, manufacturing, and sanitary registration, covering products such as food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, pesticides, medical equipment, and more. A key aspect of the regulation is the control of…

Draft Resolution on the Informative Transfer Pricing Statement in Costa Rica

The Ministry of Finance and the General Directorate of Taxation have submitted for comment the draft resolution on the tax obligation on transfer pricing. Comments on the draft shall be submitted between February 12 and 26, 2025. This draft resolution establishes the mandatory filing of the annual informative transfer pricing statement for taxpayers engaging in…

Guatemala Establishes Unit to Support Migrant Returnees

Ministerial Agreement Number 82-2025 was published in the Diario de Centroamérica on February 7, 2025. It creates the “Care Unit for Returned Migrants” within the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. The Ministry’s General Directorate of Employment will direct and supervise this unit.  The purpose of the Care Unit for Returned Migrants is to provide…

Extension of the deadline for the implementation of changes to electronic invoices in Costa Rica

By means of press release CP-08-2025 dated February 11, 2025, the Ministry of Finance extends the deadline for the implementation of modifications to electronic invoices in accordance with version 4.4 until September 1st, 2025, as established in resolution MH-DGT-RES-0027-2024. This extension aims to allow taxpayers sufficient time to implement the changes to electronic invoices, which…

Creation of the First Mediation Center in Guatemala for matters related to Copyright and Related Rights

On January 24, 2025, the Intellectual Property Registry of Guatemala officially launched the Intellectual Property Registry Mediation Center, a new initiative that will be under its administration and will have the technological and technical support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  Initially, the center will focus on the mediation of Copyright and Related Rights,…