Entering the Colombian Lighting Market With RETILAP 2024

Colombia has taken a decisive step toward modernizing its lighting regulatory framework with the  Reglamento Técnico de Iluminación y Alumbrado Público (RETILAP), issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

RETILAP is Colombia’s mandatory technical regulation governing:

• Lighting and public lighting products
• Installation design and execution
• Certification and conformity assessment
• Professional qualifications for key actors in the value chain

The 2024 update fully replaces the 2010 framework and aligns Colombia with international regulations and standards, best practices and energy efficiency goals.

RETILAP 2024 was designed with market transformation in mind. Key implications for companies entering Colombia include:

• Clear product classification: 41 regulated product types across nine categories, with defined scope, exclusions and exceptions.
• Technology transition: Phase‑out of inefficient and obsolete technologies and mandatory efficiency requirements, with strong emphasis on LED solutions.
• Expanded performance requirements: Lighting levels specified for 332 visual activities, enabling precise and standardized project design.
• Energy efficiency as a market gatekeeper: Updated Valor de Eficiencia Energética de la instalación de Iluminación (Energy Efficiency values of the lighting instalation) indicators, photometric requirements and testing protocols aligned with international norms.
• Smart lighting readiness: Products covered include smart lighting, remote management (telegestión), and photometric and system performance rules.

RETILAP 2024 is more than a regulatory requirement: it acts as a market filter that favors high‑quality, efficient, and well‑documented products, supports manufacturers in staying aligned with sustainability, innovation, and international standards.

RETILAP 2024 establishes multiple compliance pathways, depending on product type and manufacturer profile:

• Certification through Organismo Nacional de Acreditación de Colombia (Colombia´s National Accreditation Office) accredited bodies
• Recognition of international certificates under specific conditions
• Transitional use of Supplier Declarations of Conformity for select products

Understanding the right certification strategy is now a critical success factor for importation and commercialization in Colombia.

Early alignment with RETILAP 2024 is essential to reduce risks, accelerate approvals and take advantage of market opportunities.

Count on UL Solutions expertise to help you with your plans to enter or expand into Colombia.