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El Salvador is a member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and therefore participates in the ACS process of strengthening regional cooperation and integration. The basic objectives of the ACS are to create an expanded economic area, preserve the environmental integrity of the Caribbean Sea and promote the sustainable development of the region. In the pursuit of these goals, the ACS focuses its work on areas such as trade, transport, sustainable tourism and disaster risk reduction. (...)

(...) El Salvador also prohibits the import of certain products under international conventions, for example, the environmentally harmful substances and residues covered by the Montreal Protocol.

The import of a number of products is restricted for reasons of public safety, public health, animal or plant health or environmental protection. Permits, authorizations, certificates and/or approval must be obtained for their import. (...)

Table 3.8 Goods subject to import permits, authorizations or approval, 2015
Description Reason Regulatory institution Legal basis
Hydrocarbons Protection of the environment Ministry of the Economy Law regulating the storage, transport and distribution of petroleum products
(...)
Ozone depleting substances Protection of the environment Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources and Ministry of Health (MINSAL) Law on the environment; Special Regulations on the control of ozone depleting substances; Montreal Protocol
Hazardous substances Public health and protection of the environment Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources Law on the environment; Special Regulations on hazardous substances, residues and waste
Wildlife Protection of the environment Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources Law on wildlife conservation

(...) Between 2013 and 2015, the OSN (Salvadoran Standardization Agency) approved 727 Salvadoran technical standards relating to the environment, tourism, the food industry, suppliers of medical inputs, coffee growers and manufacturers of medicines, inter alia.

The OSN (Salvadoran Standardization Agency) is responsible for conformity assessment through the certification service for products, systems, services and competence of persons, taking into account national and international criteria and standards. So far, certification has been given for products (dairy produce), quality management systems on the basis of standard NTS ISO 9001:2008 and for NSO (Salvadoran mandatory standards) compliant energy efficiency.

Genetically modified foods may be imported into El Salvador provided that they comply with the provisions in the Special Regulations on the safe handling of genetically modified organisms.

El Salvador prohibits or restricts the export of some products, mainly for environmental protection or public health reasons or in order to comply with its commitments under international conventions such as CITES.

The export of several products is controlled either by means of authorizations, permits, inspection, registration, certificates or other documents issued by various public and private institutions. The relevant procedures must be completed before an export application is submitted to the CIEX. Products subject to control include: cane sugar, coffee, agricultural chemicals, staple grains, dairy produce, meat, processed food products, arms and explosives and cultural assets (Table 3.9). In general, the controls are for environmental, health, safety or quality control reasons. (...)

Table 3.9 Exports subject to controls
Product Competent authority Authorization required
Wild flora and fauna CITES El Salvador Administrative Authority in the Directorate General of Plant Health (DGSVA) and Directorate General of Livestock in the MAG CITES certificate
(...)