Certificación RETILAP para lámparas LED en Colombia: guía para importadores

Colombia's mandatory technical regulation for lighting products is RETILAP (Reglamento Técnico de Iluminación y Alumbrado Público), issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, applicable to all lighting products and lighting installations sold and used in Colombia. The electrical safety requirements of RETIE (Reglamento Técnico de Instalaciones Eléctricas) also apply to electrical components in lighting products.

Key points importers need to know:

● Latest regulatory status: RETILAP was originally issued through Resolución 181331 de 2009 and has undergone multiple amendments. Resolución 40150 de 2024 (published in the Official Gazette on May 3, 2024) made the latest round of modifications to RETILAP and set a product transition period: 15 months from the date of publication. As of November 2026, the new rules have entered the implementation phase. When commissioning a certification body, be sure to confirm that they are operating in accordance with Resolución 40150 de 2024.

● Certification holder: Type certificates are issued to the Colombian importer or local legal representative; non-Colombian companies cannot directly hold certificates. 

● Certification schemes: RETILAP/RETIE offers four optional schemes (based on ISO/IEC 17067): Scheme 1a (type testing only, valid only for tested samples), Scheme 1b (batch sampling type testing), Scheme 4 (type testing + factory inspection + ongoing surveillance), Scheme 5 (type testing + management system audit + ongoing surveillance). Startup brands usually enter through 1a, which has the lowest cost.

● An important exception:  According to RETILAP, LED semiconductors greater than 10W (individual or array) used in lighting systems, decorative light sources or luminaires, and decorative table/floor/mobile office lamps do not require proof of photometric performance; 

a supplier’s declaration of conformity (declaración del proveedor) may be accepted to demonstrate compliance with the regulation. Additionally, according to Resolución 40318 de 2025, categories including decorative solid-state bulbs, LED strips, photovoltaic lighting fixtures, decorative lighting products, and light strings may still demonstrate compliance through supplier declaration until December 31, 2025. If your startup products include these categories, this can significantly reduce initial certification costs.

● Labeling: Products must be labeled in accordance with RETILAP requirements, and technical documents and manuals must be in Spanish. 

Implementation advice for VIKSTARS clients: Prioritize entering categories that already hold valid RETILAP certificates in Colombia or have certification cooperation experience. If your first container includes decorative lights or LED strips, confirm whether they qualify for the supplier declaration path, which may save the full certification process. However, after the transition period ends at the end of 2025, the new rules must be followed.

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