Categoría: Legal Bulletin

ARCSA – New Activities Subject to a Sanitary Operating Permit The National Agency for Regulation, Control and Sanitary Surveillance (“ARCSA”) has incorporated new categories and activities into its sanitary operating permit system. This update falls within the general regulatory framework governing operating permits and the resolutions issued by ARCSA during 2026. Below, we outline the…

New Competition Compliance Guide: The SCE Updates its Guidelines and Prioritizes Program Effectiveness On August 3, 2026, the Superintendence of Economic Competition (“SCE”) issued Resolution No. SCE-DS-2026-37[1] (the “Resolution”), approving a new version of the “July 2026 Competition Compliance Guide” (the “Guide”). WHAT DOES IT INCORPORATE AND DEVELOP FURTHER COMPARED TO THE 2021 GUIDE? The…

Reducción temporal del IVA al 8 % para servicios turísticos Fifth Supplement to Official Gazette No. 341 of August 5, 2026. Through Executive Decree No. 465, issued on August 4, 2026, the President of the Republic ordered a temporary reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate applicable to tourism services during the national holiday.…

SRI Establishes Procedure for Declaring the Advance Payment Obligation on Undistributed Profits Fifth Supplement to Official Gazette No. 326 | July 15, 2026 The Ecuadorian Internal Revenue Service (SRI) issued Resolution No. NAC-DGERCGC26-00000026, establishing the procedure for the declaration and payment of the advance payment on undistributed profits, an obligation introduced by the Organic Law…

New SPDP Opinions on the Appointment of Data Protection Officers for Public Service Providers and Data Processing Arrangements with Processors Located Abroad Key Highlights The Superintendency of Personal Data Protection («SPDP») has issued two new opinions in response to consultations regarding the application of the Organic Law on Personal Data Protection («LOPDP») and the secondary…

ARCOM Updates the Regime for the Mining Supervision and Control Fee Through Resolution No. ARCOM-006/26, the Mining Regulation and Control Agency (“ARCOM”) amended Resolution No. ARCOM-003/25, introducing modifications to the regime for the Mining Supervision and Control Fee (“Fee”). The reform redefines how the fee is determined and collected, and incorporates a new calculation scheme…

Constitutional Court Declares Deferred Unconstitutionality of Executive Decree 604 The Constitutional Court of Ecuador (the “Court”) declared Executive Decree No. 604 unconstitutional on procedural grounds. The Decree contained the “Guidelines for the Application of Prior Legislative Consultation in the Issuance of Executive Branch Regulations” (the “Executive Decree”). The Court concluded that the Executive Decree regulated…

Ministry of Production Updates the List of Tariff Subheadings Eligible for Reduced ISD Rates in 2026 (Ministerial Agreement No. MPCEI-MPCEI-2026-0035-A) Official Gazette No. 308 | June 18, 2026 On May 31, 2026, the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investments issued Ministerial Agreement No. MPCEI-MPCEI-2026-0035-A, updating the list of tariff subheadings eligible for a reduced…

Provincial Court of Justice of Pichincha Orders IESS to Pay 14-Week Maternity Benefit Based on More Favorable International Standards (Judgment dated June 11, 2026 – Case No. 17297-2024-02086) The Criminal Chamber of the Provincial Court of Justice of Pichincha, through its judgment of June 11, 2026, ruled on a constitutional protection action filed against the…

SENAE Repeals the Customs Service Fee Applicable to Goods Originating from Colombia (Resolution No. SENAE-SENAE-2026-0051-RE) June 1, 2026 | Official Gazette, Fourth Supplement No. 295 The National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE), through Resolution No. SENAE- SENAE-2026-0051-RE dated May 31, 2026, repealed Resolution No. SENAE-SENAE- 2026-0031-RE, which regulated the customs service fee for customs control…