The Cuban government restricts imports of a personal nature

From September 2014, the Cuban government restricts the amount of goods that travelers arriving the island, may enter the country.

Resolution 206 of 2014, issued on last June 30 by the General Customs of Cuba (AGC for its Spanish acronym), sets limits on personal imports in an attempt to combat the smuggling of goods through mules, couriers arriving to the island by air or sea.

The new measure imposes severe restrictions on the import of electronic, computer, food, and hygiene products, in addition to clothing and footwear. A total of 381 items in 17 categories.

The head of the Tariff Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance and Prices, Yahili Garcia said that for example, from now on Cubans can only enter the island 10 kilograms of detergent instead of 44, only 30 soaps instead of 60, or 10 dairy products instead of 30. Amounts exceeding the limits will be confiscated, but if the official determines “that there is commercial intensity considering the nature, functions, or the repeated import of a particular product, article or miscellaneous, the forfeiture applies to all of the products.”

The regulation has been criticized by Cubans who consider it as a way to drown one of their few sources of high quality goods.

From now on Cuban folk arriving the country will not be able to carry as much products as before.