The Sanitary Registration Certificate Replacement (Reposicion de Certificado de Registro Sanitario) lets the holder of an existing sanitary product registration obtain an official replacement copy when the original certificate has been lost, damaged, stolen or rendered illegible. It is issued by Guatemala’s Ministerio de Salud Publica y Asistencia Social (MSPAS) through the Direccion de Regulacion y Control de Alimentos (DRCA) for food and beverages, or the Departamento de Regulacion y Control de Productos Farmaceuticos y Afines (DRCPFA) for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and hygiene products.

Quick summary: In-person filing at MSPAS. Variable cost per the official fee schedule. Estimated time: 5 to 15 business days. Not available online — physical file required. The replacement does not extend validity: the original issue and expiration dates remain in effect.

Data verified against the official Catalogo Unico de Tramites del Estado, tramites.gob.gt — Service 1809.

When to File a Replacement

This procedure is not a renewal or a modification. It applies only when:

  • The physical certificate has been lost or misplaced
  • The certificate has been stolen (with a notarial denouncement attached)
  • The document is damaged, illegible or destroyed (tears, water, fire, stains)
  • An additional certified copy of the active registration is needed
  • A material error by MSPAS requires reissuance

If you need to update formula, label, manufacturer or titleholder data, that is a modification (different procedure). If the registration is about to expire, file the renewal instead.

Requirements

  • Letter of request addressed to MSPAS / DRCA / DRCPFA (as applicable), signed by the legal representative
  • Sanitary registration number and product name
  • Justification stating the reason for replacement (loss, damage, theft)
  • Notarial document or police report in case of theft or loss
  • Original damaged document (when available)
  • Valid DPI of the legal representative, or passport for foreigners
  • Official payment receipt per MSPAS fee schedule (Acuerdo Gubernativo 712-99)
  • Notarized special power of attorney if filed by a third party (gestor)
  • Valid establishment sanitary license

Call MSPAS before traveling to confirm the current year’s requirements list, since they are updated periodically.

Steps to File the Replacement

  1. Identify the receiving department. DRCA for food and beverages; DRCPFA for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, hygiene and similar products.
  2. Assemble the file. Signed request letter, justification, theft/loss report (if applicable), copy of DPI/passport and proof of payment.
  3. Pay the official fee at an authorized bank per the MSPAS schedule. Keep the original receipt.
  4. Submit the file at the corresponding MSPAS window (zone 11, Guatemala City).
  5. Get the intake receipt with file number and tentative pickup date.
  6. Follow up in 5-15 business days, by phone or in person, using the file number.
  7. Pick up the replacement certificate signed and sealed by the competent authority.

Cost and Time

ItemDetail
Official costVariable per MSPAS fee schedule (Acuerdo Gubernativo 712-99)
Estimated time5-15 business days
Validity of the replacement certificateSame as the original — replacement does not extend validity
ModalityIn-person (not online)
Diaspora-friendlyYes, via notarized power of attorney

Confirm the exact amount on the day of payment, as fees are adjusted by government agreement and may vary by product type.

How to Apply

The procedure is not available online. You must submit the physical file at MSPAS:

  • DRCA (food and beverages): MSPAS headquarters, zone 11, Guatemala City
  • DRCPFA (pharmaceutical, cosmetic, hygiene): MSPAS headquarters, zone 11, Guatemala City

Official portal entry: tramites.gob.gt/servicio/1809. MSPAS main switchboard: 2444-7474.

From Outside Guatemala (Diaspora)

If you hold a sanitary registration and live abroad:

  • Grant a notarized special power of attorney at a Guatemalan consulate in the USA to a trusted local gestor
  • The gestor will file the application, pay the fee and pick up the certificate on your behalf
  • The power of attorney must be apostilled or consular-authenticated to be valid in Guatemala
  • Attach a copy of the legal representative’s DPI or Guatemalan passport

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing replacement with renewal. If your registration is near expiration, renew it instead.
  • Forgetting the notarial denouncement for theft or loss — the file will be rejected.
  • Failing to verify the establishment sanitary license is current — MSPAS may require it updated.
  • Paying at the wrong bank — the receipt must match the official MSPAS account.
  • Assuming it is online — as of 2026, the procedure is still in-person.