The Institute of Technical Standards of Costa Rica (INTECO) is a private, non-profit association with legal status and its own assets. Created in 1987, in 1995 it was recognized, by executive decree, as the National Normalization Entity.

This recognition is consolidated with the issuance of the Law of the National System for Quality, No. 8279, published on May 21, 2002. INTECO is recognized as the National Standardization Entity for five years, recognition that can be maintained if the Association complies satisfaction with the order that the Law does.