Chile has very few barriers to imports or investments, largely allowing foreign firms to enjoy the same protections and operate under the same conditions as local firms.
In agriculture, the United States and Chile reached an inspection and certification equivalency systems agreement, which allows each country to export dairy, beef, and poultry products without additional certification. Sanitary restrictions on fresh fruit are slowly being eliminated through ongoing technical exchanges.Agricultural exporters should contact the Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service to confirm any restrictions for specific products before shipping to Chile.
Chilean Customs works to ensure that illegal, counterfeit merchandise or merchandise that puts people’s safety at risk does not enter the country. Some products require special authorizations from other government agencies to enter Chile. For example, animal and plant products, fertilizers and pesticides, and alcohol and tobacco require authorization from Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service (https://www.sag.gob.cl/). Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that cause dependency must have an authorization from the National Health Service under the Ministry of Health (https://www.minsal.cl/). Radio communications equipment require authorization to use the transmission band from the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (https://www.subtel.gob.cl/).
Chile only approves the import of processed food products on a case-by-case basis. There is no blanket approval process for permitting identical products from different companies to enter Chile after they have been tested and found in compliance with local health regulations. To bring in a food product, the importer must obtain the permission of the Health Service Officer at the port of entry, which may take samples and perform any necessary tests. Chile is increasingly following international standards such as the Codex Alimentarius. However, a 2015 nutritional labeling law differs significantly from labeling requirements in the U.S. (see details below under Labeling and Marking Requirements). Another distinction is that all labels must be in Spanish, however, regulations from the Ministry of Health allow the importer to place a sticker before the product is sold to the public if the labeling information is in another language. For more information regarding Chile’s labeling requirements, see the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Food and Agricultural Import Regulations report at USDA Chile website.