Colombia RETIE Technical Standards
What is RETIE?
The Reglamento Técnico de Instalaciones Eléctricas (RETIE) is the regulatory framework for the electrical industry in Colombia, covering equipment and processes related to energy generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, and end-use. It applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and installers of electrical products and systems.
What’s New with RETIE?
The latest version of RETIE was established through Resolution 40117 on April 2, 2024, and officially came into effect on April 3, 2024. This regulation supersedes previous versions, including the foundational Resolution 90708 of 2013 and its subsequent updates. The latest version of RETIE expanded the certification requirement to include renewable energy technologies such as electric wind turbines, batteries for photovoltaic and wind systems, UPS, inverters for renewable energies, among others.
What is Required for U.S. Exporters under RETIE?
Under RETIE, all electrical products subject to its provisions must obtain a Certificate of Conformity before importation, commercialization, or distribution. Certification ensures compliance with the technical requirements outlined in Book 4 of Resolution 40117. Products manufactured or imported before the transition period can still be distributed if they meet prior certification standards under Resolution 90708.
The RETIE initial certification process could take up to six months. A unique certification is required for each family of products and for each factory where the product is manufactured in the United States. If your company has more than one factory and if you are planning to export products from more than one factory, then each of them needs to be certified. The cost of the certification is approximately $ 8,000-10,000 per family of products, requires a yearly renewal of approximately $2,000 per family of products, and recertification every year, approximately $4,000 per family of products.
The Colombian National Accreditation Body, ONAC, is responsible for providing accreditation services to organizations that conduct technical evaluations and testing. Before exporting to Colombia, U.S. sellers of electrical and renewable energy products must check at ONAC to find the list of accredited Colombian and international laboratories that provide testing to obtain the certificate of conformity for products subject to the RETIE.
U.S. companies interested in exporting to Colombia must comply with this certification regulation and renew it each year to remain compliant. The recommendation is to first search and choose a local distributor that could help your company with the RETIE certification process locally. The U.S. Commercial Service in Colombia can assist you in identifying a local distributor through our portfolio of services.
For more information on the RETIE technical standard, please contact Commercial Specialist Norcia Ward.