Cuba to Establish New Customs Regs as of September

Cuba to Establish New Customs Regs as of September

July 10, 2014 | Print Print | 2 1298 4 1329

Ivette Leyva Martínez (Café Fuerte)



HAVANA TIMES — As part of a new round of measures aimed at combatting

the trafficking of different products through messengers or travelers

known as "mules", Cuban authorities will begin applying drastic

restrictions on the import of items for personal use, household

appliances and computer equipment as of September of this year.

Resolution 206 of 2014, issued by Cuban Customs on June 30th, sets down

strict limits on the number of items that can be declared for personal

use for as many as 381 different products.

According to the 36-page document obtained by CafeFuerte, the resolution

will come into effect on September 1 this year. The Cuban government has

not yet officially announced the new measures that will apply to all

travellers.

Custom authorities will be entitled to confiscate all items in excess of

the established limit. When a customs official considers that a traveler

is guilty of "repeated imports of a particular product," they will be

authorized to confiscate the luggage in its entirety.



*Less Products*



The new regulations imply a drastic reduction in the number of products

that may be imported into the country under Resolution 320 of 2011.



Electronic and computer devices are among the most severely affected by

the new regulations. In addition to the fact that the number of such

products that may be brought into the country has been reduced by half

in nearly all cases, travelers will require special permits issued by

the Cuban Ministry of Communications (under the supervision of State

Security) to bring any of the following into the country:



- Wireless fax (only one allowed)

- Phone switchboards (1)

- Wireless microphones and their accessories (1)

- Routers and switchers (1)

- Walkie-talkies (1)



The number of food, personal hygiene, clothing and footwear products

allowed into the country will also be reduced significantly. Below are

some examples illustrating the new restrictions that will come into

effect in September:



*Product* *2011* *2014*

Mouse 2 1

Personal computer 2 1

Compact discs 200 50

Motherboard 2 1

Preserves of any kind 50 20

Dairy products of any kind 30 10

Disposable razors 100 20

Hair styling equipment 100 24

Soaps 60 30

Panties 4 docenas 2 docenas

Bathing suits 10 5

Baseball caps 40 10

Women's shoes 30 15 (5 de vestir, 5 sandalias o chancletas, 5 deportivo)

Men's shoes 30 15 (5 de vestir, 5 sandalias o chancletas, 5 deportivo)



A second resolution issued by Cuban Customs (Resolution 207 of 2014)

complements these restrictions and establishes new duties (without

specifying whether these are in Cuban pesos or Cuban Convertible Pesos)

applicable to personal items brought by travelers.



According to Resolutions 222 and 223 of 2012, promulgated by the

Ministry of Finance and Prices, all passengers who carry items for a

value above $ 50.99 pesos will have to pay a duty of 10 Cuban pesos

(CUP) or Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) for every kilogram in excess of

the established limit. The 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of personal luggage

allotted will remain tax-free.



Since May of this year, Cuban Customs has issued several warnings to

passengers who travel to Cuba carrying packages for third parties,

pointing out this could lead not only to the confiscation of the items

transported but to criminal proceedings as well.



Custom authorities are focusing their efforts on detecting drugs

concealed in luggage and electronic devices that could be used to skirt

restrictions on Internet use on the island.



Source: Cuba to Establish New Customs Regs as of September - Havana

Times.org - http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=104795