As of mid 1993, 75 per cent of the countries were reviewing their legislation on this subject. The majority tends to simplify the Drugs Registration process reducing time and cost. Some (Argentina and Colombia) attempted to place all regulating functions in one institution alone, dependent from the Ministry of Health. At present, registration of new medicinal products may take between one month (Peru) and 18 months (Colombia); whereas registration of a medicinal product similar to an already existing one, may take between 15 days (Peru) and 12 months (Bolivia). In some countries this is done through the other countries mutual recognition registration, either because they are marketed in accordance to well-known pharmacopoeias, or because they are marketed in another country, other than that of origin. Costs can vary between US$9 (El Salvador) and US$3,000 (Argentina, for new drugs). On the other hand, except for Nicaragua (where Registration was dismantled between 1991 and 1993), in 1993 the number of registered drugs is greater than those available.