This Monday the flexibility announced by the Cuban government for the import of food, toiletries and medicines to the island by travelers arriving on the Island came into force.
This measure, of a temporary nature, allows those who travel to Cuba to non-commercially import “products classified as food, medicine and toiletries” in accompanied luggage, without limits on their value and free of payment of tariffs, in accordance with Resolution 213/2021 of the General Customs of the Republic, published in the extraordinary Gaceta Oficial No. 62.
Minister of Finance and Prices Meisi Bolaños recently clarified that this flexibility does not apply to unaccompanied luggage, that is, to suitcases or packages sent before or after the passenger’s trip, the official Cubadebate website recalled.
According to the publication, the minister added that the measure applies to both Cubans and foreigners, residents or not on the island, and will be in effect until December 31.
However, for travelers arriving through the airports of the tourist destinations of Varadero and Cayo Coco, the benefit is limited to a single luggage transported in the hold of the plane, due to the regulations already in place for these sites due to COVID-19.
Given the shortage of medicines and food that Cuba is currently suffering, as a consequence of the current economic crisis in the country, accentuated by the U.S. embargo/blockade and the pandemic, the highest Cuban authorities announced last Wednesday the relaxation of non-commercial imports of those products, along with other measures.
The announcement took place after the massive protests of previous days in different locations on the island, which led to clashes between the protesters and pro-government groups together with law enforcement forces. These events, which the government classifies as “riots” and maintains that they were boosted from the United States, triggered claims over the current shortages of food and medicine, and long power outages.
Cuban government announces new economic measures and on the import of food and medicines
Cubadebate specifies that travelers can bring diagnostic medical supplies and biosensors, disposable sanitary masks, masks to administer oxygen, scalpel blades and handles, gloves, syringes and disposable adult diapers.
It specifies that non-alcoholic beverages will be considered as food, and therefore they are within the measure, which offers facilities for the import of canned meat of recognized trademarks and from countries that due to their current animal health situation and agreements established between Official Veterinary Services are eligible for Cuba.
The same applies to sausages, canned seafood, milk in its different variants and pasteurized mature cheeses.
In accordance with the sanitary regulations for the import of foods of animal origin established in Cuba, the ban on bringing fresh, frozen, dehydrated or salted meats, as well as fluid milk and unpasteurized dairy products, remains in force.
These regulations may undergo modifications related to changes in the animal health situation of the countries of origin of the products that can be imported, says the publication, which also clarifies that the products must arrive fully packaged, labeled and with undamaged packaging.
Those products whose packaging suffers any damage or deterioration that could become a vehicle for etiological agents that cause diseases will be confiscated and incinerated, it added.
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OnCuba Staff 
What? Announce a policy to allow in unlimited food and medicines without duty. And oh, by the way, we will still restrict tourists arriving in Varadero to bringing in only one checked bag. Do they think the Covid virus arrives in suitcases?
What a utterly stupid restriction, which makes it almost impossible for tourist coming from foreign countries to help the Cuban people out with food and medicine, which they obviously so desperately need! Because they’ll have to fill their one checked bag with food and other needed things for themselves. And that’s exactly the kind of ridiculous contradictory decisions, and poor government planning that has caused the mess they find themselves in right now.
I think I know the real reason…:)
As a frequent traveler to Cuba it makes no sense Varadero is not included.
To me understanding the Cuban government and its people.
The real reason to answer your question is that Varadero is strictly a tourist town
people outside of Varadero do not get the tips, the shirts, meds , etc from the
tourists. So as a socialist country everyone is equal. It would not be fair Varadero
gets everything, which they do anyway from mass Canadians. The government wants
to level the playing field from the tourist towns as compared to the outskirts.
They are way desperate outside of Varadero. I think it has nothing to do with Covid.
Also a lot of stuff is sold on the black market that is given.
The amazing people of Cuba were already in desperate need of the items tourists bring for them. Seeing a 30 year old proud Cuban father in tears because he received a bottle of infant tylenol from a Canadian puts it all in perspective, doesn’t it? Now how about I tell you that that was not only pre-Covid, it was in 2008.