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