Global Agriculture Information Network

Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/27/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** CU5001

CU5001

**Cuba**

**Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards**

**Country Report**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Omar Gonzalez, Acting Director

Caribbean Basin ATO

**Prepared by:**

Omar Gonzalez, Acting Director

**Report Highlights:**

\"Updated on 07/27/05\"

\"Sections Updated: Contact Information and Websites/Links\"

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Miami \[C11\]

\[CU\]

**This report was prepared by the Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade
Office of the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service in Miami, Florida for
U.S. exporters of domestic food and agricultural products. While every
possible care was taken in the preparation of this report, information
provided may not be completely accurate either because policies have
changed since its preparation, or because clear and consistent
information about these policies was not available. It is highly
recommended that U.S. exporters verify the full set of import
requirements with their foreign customers, who are normally best
equipped to research such matters with local authorities, before any
goods are shipped. FINAL IMPORT APPROVAL OF ANY PRODUCT IS SUBJECT TO
THE IMPORTING COUNTRY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS AS INTERPRETED BY BORDER
OFFICIALS AT THE TIME OF PRODUCT ENTRY.**

**SECTION I. FOOD LAWS**

Cuba remains highly dependent on imports of agricultural products to
satisfy the food needs not only of its population (estimated at nearly
12 million), but also of its tourism sector, the country's largest
industry. Given the trade embargo imposed by the United States over the
past four decades, Cuba has found it necessary to source its
agricultural imports from elsewhere, namely Canada, Europe, Latin
America, and the Caribbean. Most of Cuba's food needs are imported by
the Cuban government-operated Empresa Cubana Importadora de Alimentos
(Alimport) under the auspices of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade.
Alimport is responsible for meeting domestic consumption needs,
including ingredients for food manufacturers. The import needs of the
food service industry are met by government companies which own hotel
chains and foreign joint venture importers.

In the early 1990\'s as the Cuban economy opened up to private
enterprise and the U.S. dollar was allowed to legally circulate on the
island, imports of foreign agricultural products began to swell.

In order to deal with the growing wave of food imports, beginning in
1992 Cuban authorities enacted stricter import laws and regulations. The
Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for regulating imports of bulk
and intermediate agricultural products into Cuba. Similarly, the Cuban
Ministry of Health is responsible for regulating imports of
consumer-ready foods. Each of these Ministries has its own legislation
governing imports of food products. In addition to enacting stricter
legislation, Cuba has also sought to improve its enforcement as well.
Enforcement is carried out mostly at the port of entry where scrutiny
can be intense, and at the importer warehouse level. Since practically
all retail establishments are state controlled enterprises, enforcement
at the retail level is minimal at best. Overall enforcement in Cuba is
not unlike what it is in many Latin American countries, where lack of
resources and other factors can undermine government efforts.

Following the historic sale of U.S. agricultural products to Cuba in
late 2001, the U.S. trade has a growing expectation of further and more
constant agricultural trade with Cuba. It is important to note that
while several regulatory issues remain open given the lack of diplomatic
relations between the two countries, it is apparent that Cuban officials
are willing to accept USDA export certificates. In fact, although Cuba
does not recognize USDA as an official regulatory agency, USDA export
certificates are required for bulk grain and meat products, particularly
for fresh, frozen, and canned meats. Please note that as of the date of
this report, the diplomatic status between the United States and Cuba
did not allow USDA officials to contact Cuban government officials.
Therefore, we encourage U.S. exporters to work closely with the importer
and/or the Cuban government for further information.

**SECTION II. LABELING REQUIREMENTS**

All food products are required to be labeled in Spanish. This is a key
requirement to which no exceptions are made. Multilingual labels are
accepted as long as Spanish is one of the languages included on the
label. Stick-on labels are generally allowed in order to comply with the
Spanish language requirement. Although the entire label is required to
be in Spanish, the three most important items which health authorities
will look for in Spanish are the list of ingredients, the expiration
date, and the country of origin.

Following is the information required by Cuban law on all food product
labels:

1\. List of ingredients.

A complete list of ingredients, preferably in descending order by
weight, should be clearly stated on the label.

2\. Nutritional facts.

Although nutritional facts are a mandatory labeling requirement for food
products, the Ministry of Health places little emphasis on this matter
and does very little to enforce it own nutritional requirements. The
standard U.S. nutritional fact panel is fully acceptable in Cuba.
Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) information, which is usually part of the
nutritional fact panel on U.S. labels, is not required. The use of
nutrient content claims (i.e. \"low in saturated fat\"), absolute
descriptors (i.e. \"high-fiber\" or \"low fat\") and relative
descriptors (i.e. \"*reduced* sugar\" or \"*light* in sodium\") are all
acceptable. The same applies to implied claims and health claims made of
food products.

3\. Expiration date.

Open dating statements commonly used in the United States such as \"Best
if used by,\" may not be acceptable in Cuba. Cuban health authorities,
who place a high degree of importance on this requirement, strongly
prefer to see a finite expiration date on all food labels. Health
authorities may show leniency in allowing shipments to enter Cuba with
open dating statements, but this leniency is likely to be short-lived.

4\. Country of origin

U.S. exporters should take special care in complying with the country of
origin requirement as well. Many U.S. products simply state the
manufacturer's or packer's city and state only. As is the case in many
other countries, Cuban health authorities require the country of origin
to be explicitly stated on the label. Therefore, either \"USA\" must be
added to the address or the label must contain statements such as
\"Product of USA\" or \"Made in USA\" in order to clearly identify the
product's origin. As with the expiration date requirement, leniency
regarding the country of origin requirement is likely to be short-lived.
U.S. exporters are urged to take the necessary steps to fully comply
with Cuban labeling requirements, particularly those relating to
expiration date and country of origin.

5\. Net content*.*

The net content of the product must be expressed in metric units.

In addition to the above labeling requirements, Cuban authorities may
also refer to internationally accepted Codex Alimentarius (Codex)
standards if discrepancies with foreign labels exist. Codex, also known
as the \"food code,\" is a set of scientifically-based and
globally-recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines and
recommendations for food products.

U.S. products may enter with the standard U.S. label, but they must also
display an additional stick-on label specifying all the information
outlined above. It is recommended that any stick-on labels be affixed on
the product prior to arrival in Cuba so that the product is fully
compliant at the port of entry and the customs clearance process is not
delayed. As mentioned earlier, the port of entry is the main point of
enforcement. It is worth noting that while stick-on labels will fulfill
import requirements in the short term, U.S. companies seeking to export
food products to Cuba over the long run should label their products
according to Cuban requirements without the use of stick-on labels (to
avoid any possible complications at the port of entry).

Samples and institutional packed products for the food service industry
are not contemplated in Cuban labeling regulations. However, in the case
of institutional packed products, health authorities normally do not
expect to see all the information required on labels of retail products.
The boxes or cases in which institutional products are shipped must be
labeled with the name or description of the product and with the product
size. The products themselves should be individually labeled with the
same information as well. Nonetheless, in order to avoid problems
associated with government inspectors using their discretion in terms of
labeling compliance, it is recommended that samples as well as
institutional packed products be labeled the same as retail products.

Additional information pertaining to lot codes, artificial additives,
special shelf-life considerations (i.e. \"refrigerate after opening\"),
manufacturer name and address, importer name and address, and Cuban
sanitary registration number (once obtained) is not required on labels.
However, it is highly recommended that this type of information be
included on the label when available so that health officials have no
reason to question compliance with their broader standards.

Cuba has no specific standards regarding irradiated food products. U.S.
standards on this subject are acceptable.

The Ministry of Health's Food Labeling and Registration Department may
grant exceptions to the labeling of products if they are processed,
packed, or repacked in Cuba's Duty Free Zone. Contingent upon government
approval and subject to government supervision, importers may label the
products in the Duty Free Zone according to the standards set by the
Ministry of Health. Although this practice is allowed, this is seldom
the case given that the "Duty Free Zone" is normally used for the
importation of raw materials and inputs which are further processed into
value-added export products.

**SECTION III. PACKAGING AND CONTAINER REGULATIONS**

Although not regulated by the Cuban government, food containers should
be adequately sized for each market segment. The food service sector for
the tourists is accustomed to larger sizes much the same as in the
United States. However, the 10,000 small, in-home restaurants, known as
\"paladares,\" prefer smaller sizes since their purchasing power,
storage capability and daily needs are relatively small.

The Cuban retail sector exhibits certain characteristics which result in
different packaging demands as well. Cuban consumers buy more frequently
and in smaller sizes than their U.S. counterparts given tighter
disposable income levels. For instance, an estimated 90 percent of
cooking oil is sold in one liter containers. While the four gallon size
is also available and offers greater overall value to the consumer, the
majority of the population simply cannot afford the larger size. The
same applies to many products, particularly tomato sauce, spaghetti, and
mayonnaise.

Cuba has no special Municipal Waste Disposal Laws or product recycling
regulations. The manufacturer has the flexibility to use any packaging
material as long as its acceptable for use with food products. PVC and
similar materials are fully acceptable in Cuba.

**SECTION IV. FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS**

Cuban law does not cite any major restrictions at all on additives.
Thus, if the additive is recognized as being suitable for human
consumption, particularly by Codex standards, it is considered
acceptable by the Cuban Ministry of Health. With few exceptions, U.S.
food additive laws either meet or are stricter than Codex standards.

A complete list of additives that are acceptable by the Cuban Ministry
of Health may be obtained directly from the Ministry's Food Labeling and
Registration Department listed in Appendix I. U.S. exporters wishing to
introduce a food product into Cuba containing a new additive, should
contact the above specified agency and be prepared to submit the proper
documentation/samples for scientific analysis prior to approval. Please
see Appendix I for contact information.

**SECTION V. PESTICIDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS**

The Ministry of Health is the agency charged with regulating
pesticide/contaminant residues in foodstuffs. In Cuba a wide array of
pesticides/contaminants are used on crops. The Ministry uses its own
list of approved products and acceptable tolerance levels for each. U.S.
exporters may obtain a copy of such list by contacting the Ministry's
Food Labeling and Registration Department. As a general rule of thumb,
Codex maximum residue limits are acceptable in most foodstuffs. In most
cases U.S. food laws either meet or are stricter than Codex
pesticide/contaminant standards. A pesticide/contaminant suspected of
affecting the food supply or producing illness is swiftly removed from
the market and analyzed by the Ministry of Health to determine its
effects on the consumer.

**SECTION VI. OTHER REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS**

Prior to exporting any agricultural product to Cuba, U.S. exporters
should ascertain whether their products will require a zoosanitary
import permit in the case of animal products or a phytosanitary import
permit in the case of plant products. These permits, issued by the Cuban
Ministry of Agriculture, are normally obtained by the importing party.
The Cuban government will require the appropriate zoo/phytosanitary
import permit from the importing party before any trade contract is
executed. In order to obtain such permits, the following is usually
required:

1\. Commercial name of the product;

2\. Scientific name of the product (if applicable);

3\. Use of the product;

4\. Method of transportation into Cuba;

5\. Country of origin; and

6\. Country from which the product is being delivered to Cuba.

In the case of meat products, a visit by a Cuban Ministry official to
the farm and/or processing facility from where the products originate
may be required prior to granting any zoosanitary import permit. Any
plant product posing a risk to plant health will require a phytosanitary
import permit. Such is the case for live plants or parts of plants,
seeds, animal feeds, forestry products, products for industrial use such
as cotton, tobacco, and medicinal plants and herbs. For the most part,
processed consumer-ready food products should not be subject to such
requirements by the Ministry of Agriculture. However, U.S. exporters are
urged to verify the need for any sanitary permits from the Ministry of
Agriculture.

All food and beverage products, with the exception of pet foods, must be
registered prior to importation with the Ministry of Health's Food
Labeling and Registration Department. Once a product has been
registered, any licensed importer can import the product into the
country without the use of letters of authorization granted by the
registering party.

The following documentation is required in order to register a food or
beverage product in Cuba:

1\. Sanitary Certificate stating that the product is suitable for human
consumption;

2\. Certificate of Health from the state where the product is produced
or manufactured;

3\. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the product (commonly
known as Q&Q formula) with a list of ingredients;

4\. Meat products must have a USDA/FSIS certificate from the meat
packing establishment where they originated; and

5\. A sample of the product (including the label) in its commercial
presentation.

All documents must be originals and must be translated into Spanish.
Both sets of documents (English and Spanish) must be presented at the
time of registration. All original documents should be notarized.
However, Apostilles, state certifications that notaries are duly
registered, are not required.

The entire sanitary registration process takes approximately 15 to 30
days depending on the workload of the Food Labeling and Registration
Department and of the laboratory conducting the analysis of the samples.
Laboratory bottlenecks are not uncommon. The cost for each individual
registration is approximately \$130 plus any service fees assessed by
the agency carrying out the registration. It is common for private or
semi-private legal firms specializing in these sort of government
processes to handle the registration. A list of firms possibly offering
this sort of service can be found in Appendix II.

While there is no minimum size requirement for samples, U.S. exporters
should use common sense in providing sample sizes/quantities which are
ample enough for laboratory analysis. Samples must be accompanied by all
certificates and documents outlined above and they must also be labeled
"Samples, Not for Resale-No Commercial Value."

Pursuant to the U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba, any person seeking to
send any goods, including samples of agricultural products for sanitary
registration purposes, from the United States to Cuba directly or
indirectly must first obtain authorization from the U.S. Department of
Commerce Bureau of Export Administration (USDOC/BXA). Authorization may
be made in the form of an individual validated license or by a
determination that goods fall within a \"licensing exception\" that
covers those goods with a blanket authorization. Under current USDOC/BXA
rules, exporting samples to Cuba is no easy matter. No mail service
directly between the two countries exists. Moreover, current regulations
prohibit courier services from transporting goods to Cuba. Most of the
goods moving from the United States to Cuba are donations of medicines
and food products sent between family members. These move by air cargo
companies authorized by USDOC/BXA. However, air cargo companies licensed
to carry products other than donated foods and medicines are few and far
between and thus they offer little continuity in service.

Traveling to Cuba to personally take product samples can also prove
cumbersome. The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) administers the Cuban Assets Control Regulations that in
part prohibit persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction from \"engaging in
travel-related transactions\" in Cuba, an effective ban on travel to the
island, without OFAC consent. The OFAC Office in Miami, Florida handles
requests for travel in connection with sales, export, re-export or
servicing of agricultural goods. An authorized traveler may use the
direct charter flights between the United States and Cuba (from Miami,
New York or Los Angeles) or may travel by another route. In the United
States, only \"travel service providers\" (akin to travel agents)
authorized by OFAC may assist an authorized traveler to obtain a Cuban
visa, make reservations on a charter flight, and answer the myriad of
questions. Many of these also work with donations to Cuba and thus are
familiar with U.S. regulations governing exports to Cuba. An authorized
traveler on a charter flight could transport a limited amount of
authorized goods as luggage, depending on the airline's rules.
Therefore, this last alternative seems the most viable for transporting
food samples to Cuba at the present time.

See Appendix IV for USDOC/BXA and OFAC contact information, including a
link to OFAC's website detailing a list of authorized travel service
providers.

Travelers carrying food samples into Cuba are required to declare the
products to Cuban Customs. For products subject to special import
requirements (i.e. meat products), Customs may request additional
authorization/documentation by the appropriate regulatory agency. As a
general rule of thumb, the declared value of the merchandise, which as
mentioned earlier should read \"No Commercial Value\" in the case of
samples, will be accepted. Customs rulings involving decisions taken
against travelers or their luggage may be appealed. Initial claims
should be made to the Chief of the Customs unit where the ruling was
originally made. Claims can be escalated to the next highest level if
need be.

Although compliance with health standards is verified mostly at the port
of entry and at the importer warehouse level, the Cuban government does
exercise some control, albeit on a very limited basis, at the retail
level. When random inspections by health officials uncover
irregularities such as spoiled product or product past its expiration,
the product is usually confiscated. Store managers may be penalized
depending on the severity of the violation. The same applies at the
wholesale level, except here the scrutiny is more intense. At this level
the penalties for violations are also higher. In addition to product
confiscation and fines, penalties may also include total removal of the
product from the island and temporary suspension of import privileges
for the particular item in question.

**SECTION VII. OTHER SPECIFIC STANDARDS**

Information on other specific standards and regulations impacting
imported foods is not available. However, it should be noted that
vitamins and nutritional products are considered pharmaceutical in
nature and they are not sold in supermarkets or retail food stores.
These types of products are sold in pharmacies only.

**SECTION VIII. COPYRIGHT AND/OR TRADEMARK LAWS**

All trademarks and brand names registered in Cuba are protected under
Cuba law. Trademark registration with the Cuban Office of Trademarks and
Patents is voluntary, but it is highly recommended that U.S. exporters
shipping their products to Cuba make every effort to register their
trademarks and brand names there. U.S. exporters should know that the
foreign owner of a trademark need not grant authorization in order for
someone to register a trademark. As a result, trademarks and brand names
may be registered in Cuba without the consent or knowledge of the actual
owners. Only legal firms specializing in this sort of work are allowed
to conduct trademark registration (see Appendix II for a list of such
firms). For further information on the trademark registration process,
U.S. exporters should contact such firms.

Applicable laws governing trademark registration include:

1\. Decree No. 68: Inventions, Scientific Discoveries, Industrial
Models, Trademarks and Denominations of Origin (May 14, 1983);

2\. Decree No. 160: Patent Applications concerning the Pharmaceutical
and Agricultural Chemical Products (June 9, 1995)

3\. Decree No. 203: Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs (May 5, 2000)

U.S. companies have registered nearly 4,000 trademarks and brand names
of a total of about 60,000 currently registered in Cuba. Many of the
registered U.S. trademarks belong to well established and recognizable
food products.

**SECTION IX. IMPORT PROCEDURES**

The customs clearance process begins with submittal of the customs
merchandise declaration by the importer. This declaration must be
accompanied by the following documents:

1\. Shipping documents (i.e. bill of lading, export certifications were
applicable, etc.)

2\. Commercial invoice

3\. Packing list

4\. Certificate of Origin (if most favored nation status for duty
purposes or other benefits are being claimed)

One very important point is that all documents must be translated into
Spanish. Cuban Customs does offer some leeway in terms of the
documentation. For instance, Proforma invoices are temporarily accepted.
Importers are also allowed to submit Customs declarations in advance of
shipment arrivals, and make temporary or incomplete declarations when
all the information necessary for clearance is not readily available.
However, a commitment to submit a complete declaration and all the
remaining documentation is required.

Shipments are inspected and cleared at three different levels. At the
first level, merchandise goes through any of three channels: green,
orange or red. In the green channel, neither the documents nor the
merchandise are inspected. In the orange channel, the documents are
reviewed to determine if a physical inspection of the merchandise is
required. In the red channel, clearance is granted only after the
merchandise has been physically inspected. According to Cuban Customs,
90 percent of all shipments move through the green channel in the first
stage. In the second clearance level, the documentation is reviewed
again to determine if any errors in classification, valuation, or duty
assessment may exist. When errors or inconsistencies are found,
corrections are made and administrative sanctions may be applied to
importers or customs agents when malicious intent or negligence are the
case. The third and final level of clearance involves post clearance
inspections, which may take place up to five years after the merchandise
is imported into the country.

A licensed Customs Broker must be hired for the entire Customs clearance
process to flow smoothly (see Appendix III for a list of Cuban Customs
Brokers). Customs clearance time may vary depending on the volume of
cargo entering Cuba at any given time and the number of documents
required for specific merchandise. The entire process may take one to
three weeks depending on the effectiveness of the Customs Broker as
well. Cuba's socialist system has many bureaucratic layers and the
Customs Department is no exception. Scrutiny of the import process can
be quite intense and thus time consuming. Information contained in the
Bill of Lading and pertaining to the consignee must also be complete and
accurate. Discrepancies in this regard will surely delay the clearance
process.

Decisions by Customs officials to reject merchandise may be appealed.
Depending on the grounds for rejection, the head of the Customs
Department or the Minister of Health will have the final say on whether
or not merchandise can be imported into the country.

Applicable laws governing Customs procedures include:

1\. Decree No. 124: Customs Duties of the Republic of Cuba (October
1990);

2\. Decree No. 162: Customs Law of the Republic of Cuba (May 1996)

3\. Decree No. 207: Customs Administrative Infractions (May 1996)

It should be noted that Cuba uses the nomenclature of the harmonized
system up to 8 digits. Duties for most favored nations average 10.7
percent and for all others, including the United States, it does not
exceed 17 percent in most cases. Raw materials carry a duty of 5 to 15
percent. Over 90 percent of subheadings have a duty of less than 15
percent and only 8 percent of subheadings have a duty above 20 percent.

**APPENDIX I. GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACTS**

Dr. José Piñon Vega

Jefe de Despacho, Oficina de Ministro (Chief of Staff, Minister's
Office)

Ministerio de Salud Pública (Ministry of Public Health)

Calle 23, No. 201 entre M y N Vedado

Plaza Revolución

Habana, Cuba CP 10400

Tel: 011 (537) 55-3377, 55-3354, 55-3386, 55-3406 & 07, 55-3332, 55-3345

Fax: n/a

E-mail: n/a

Dr. Jorge R. Díaz Fernández

Director

Instituto de Nutricion y Sanidad de Alimentos\* (Institute of Nutrition
and Food Safety\*)

Infanta No. 1158 entre Linás y Clavel

Centro de la Habana

Habana, Cuba CP 10300

Tel: 011 (537) 78-1429, 78-5919, 70-0183

Fax: 011 (537) 33-8313

E-mail: or

*\* This agency is charged with developing research related to food and
nutrition as well as with preventing illnesses associated with food
quality. This agency also acts as the National Reference Center of the
Ministry of Public Health on matters pertaining to nutrition and
represents Cuba within the World Health Organization.*

Dirección de Relaciones Internacionales \* (International Relations
Directorate\*)

Oficina Nacional de Normalización (National Standards Office)

Calle E No. 261 entre 11 y 13

Vedado ‑ La Habana 10400

Tel: 011 (537) 30-0022, 30-0835, 30-0825

Fax: 011 (537) 33-8048

E‑mail: ncnorma@ceniai.inf.cu

*\* This agency is the Codex Commission point of contact in Cuba.*

Dr. Carlos Delgado Ortega

Jefe de los Servicios Veterinarios de Frontera (Chief Border Vet.
Services)

Insitituto de Medicina Veterinaria (Institiute of Vet. Medicine)

Calle 12 #355 E/ 15 y 17

Vedado, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba CP 10400

Tel: 011 (537) 37-330

Fax: 011 (537) 30-3537

E-mail: imv@ceniai.inf.cu

E-mail: Ing. Máximo R. Martínez

Director de Cuarentena Vegetal (Plant Quarantine Director)

Ayuntamiento No. 231

e/ Lombillo y San Pedro

Plaza Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba

Tel: 011 (537) 81-4668, 78-4976

Fax: 011 (537) 70-3277, 79-6654

E-mail: cnsv@ceniai.inf.cu

Oficina Cubana de la Propiedad Intelectual (Cuban Office of Intellectual
Property)

Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente (Ministry of Science,
Technology & Environment)

Picota No. 15 Entre Luz y Acosta

La Habana Vieja C.P. 10100

Habana, Cuba

Tel: 011 (537) 624-395 / 624-379

Fax: 011 (537) 335-610

E-mail:

Website:

Pedro Ramón Pupo Pérez

Director

Cuban Customs

Calle 6, Esquina a 39, Plaza Revolución

Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba CP 10600

Tel: 011 (573) 55-5466 to 70

Telefax: 011 (573) 33-5222, 81-5631

Website:

**APPENDIX II. CUBAN FIRMS SPECIALIZING IN TRADEMARK AND/OR SANITARY
REGISTRATION**

Ada Acosta Martínez

LEX, S.A.

Servicios Jurídicos de Marcas y Patentes

Calle 1ra No. 1001, Esquina 10

Miramar, Playa

Habana, Cuba

Tel: 011 (537) 24-9093

Fax: 011 (537) 24-9533

E-mail:

Rebeca García Monroy

Bufete Internacional

Casa Matriz

5ta. avenida No. 16 202

Esquina 162, Miramar, Playa

Habana, Cuba.\
Tel: 011 (537) 24-6749\
Fax: 011 (537) 24-6750

E-mail:

Rogelio Rafael Valdéz Pila

CLAIM, Consultores de Marcas y Patentes\
Lamparilla \# 2. Lonja del Comercio. Oficina 6. Habana Vieja. Ciudad de
La Habana. CP 10100\
Tel: 011 (537) 33-0743 y 330755\
Fax: 011 (537) 33-0746\
E-mail:

Ms. María Antonia Carrillo de Albornoz y Martínez

CONAS, Consultores Asociados\
5ta. avenida No. 2 201, esquina 22, Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de La Habana.
Tel: 011 (537) 24-0207 & 24-2988\
Fax: 011 (537) 24-4320\
E-mail:

Dania Teresita Galvéz Fernández

Consultoría Jurídica Internacional\
Calle 16 No. 314, entr 3ra y 5ta. avenida, Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de La
Habana.\
Teléfonos: (537) 24 2437 and 24 4090\
Fax: (537) 24 2303\
E-mail:

Ms Alina Edward Copperi

General Manager

Rado y Asociados, S.A.\
Calle de los Oficios 152 esq. a Amargura\
Piso 4\
Habana Vieja, Ciudad de la Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 33-8186, 33-8039, 33-9400, 66-6235 and 66-6236\
Fax: 011 (537) 33-8185\
e-mail: ,

*While it impractical to provide a complete list of Cuban firms which
offer trademark and sanitary registration services, this partial list is
furnished with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and
no guarantee of reliability is implied.*

**APPENDIX III. CUBAN CUSTOMS AGENTS**

ADESA, S.A.

Prado \# 20, Esq. San Lazaro, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 33‑8691, 33‑8690, 33-8581

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑8044

AEROVARADERO, S.A.

Carretera Wajay Km 1/2. Aijm. Boyeros.cdad. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 66‑6009

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑4126

Almacenes Universales, S.A.

Desamparados \# 166 E/ Habana y Compostela, Habana Vieja

Tel: 011 (537) 66‑9864, 66‑9865, 63‑5497

Fax: 011 (537) 66‑9865

ARANDIA, S.A.

Calle 3ra y Final, La Puntilla, Playa, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 24-8655

Fax: 011 (537) 24-8-654

ASTRAD

Calzada \# 2 Esq. A Calle 2, Plaza, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 98-5030, 99-3544, 93‑4010

Fax: 011 (537) 93‑7573

Consignataria Maritima Caribeña

Lonja Del Comercio, Local J, Habana Vieja, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 66‑9095 / 96

Fax: 011 (537) 66‑9097

Coral Container Lines, S.A.

Oficios \# 170 E/ Amargura y Tte. Rey, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 57‑0854, 61‑2630, 57-0925

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑8115

CUBACONTROL, S.A.

Calle 26 Esq. A Conill, Plaza, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 55‑5732, 55‑5739, 81‑3575

Fax: 011 (537) 55‑5738

CUBANACAN EXPRESS, S.A.

180 \# 111 E/ 5ta y 1ra, Playa, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 33‑7404, 33‑7419, 33‑7506

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑7404

CUBAPACK, S.A.

22 \# 4115 E/ 41 y 47, Playa, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 24‑2817, 24‑2134

Fax: 011 (537) 24‑2226

INTERMAR

Obispo \# 361, Habana Vieja, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 33‑8222, 57‑1221 to 24

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑8020

Naviera Cubana Caribeña

25 #3105 Esq. A 33, Nueva Gerona, Isla de La Juventud

Tel: 011 (537) 63‑0330 (Havana Office)

Fax: n/a

OTM Central Cargo

Infanta \# 1115 E/ Benjumeda y Santo Tomás, Centro Habana,

Tel: 011 (537) 57‑5644 to 46

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑5338

Palacio de Convenciones

146 \# 1107 E/ 11 y 13, Playa, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 21‑0758, 21‑6111

Fax: 011 (537) 21‑6111

SERVITALLY

Desamparados S/n Esq. A Compostela, Habana Vieja, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 57‑1423, 66‑9138

Fax: 011 (537) 66‑9138

TECNOTEX

Edificio \"La Marina\", Habana Vieja, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 61‑3536, 61‑0641, 61‑1538

Fax: 011 (537) 66‑6270

TRANSCARGO, S.A.

San Pedro \# 1, Habana Vieja, C. Habana

Tel: 011 (537) 62‑2425, 62‑3416, 33‑8125

Fax: 011 (537) 33‑8626

CUTISA, S.A.

Calzada \# 818 E/ 2 y 4, Plaza, C. Hab.

Tel: 011 (537) 33‑4351 / 52

Fax: 011 (537) 334351

*While it impractical to provide a complete list of Cuban customs
agents, this partial list is furnished with the understanding that no
discrimination is intended and no guarantee of reliability is implied.*

**APPENDIX IV. OTHER IMPORT SPECIALIST CONTACTS**

Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade Office Paul Hoffman, Director

Foreign Agricultural Service E-mail: cbato@cbato.net

U.S. Department of Agriculture

909 SE 1^st^. Ave Suite 720 Omar González, Deputy Director

Miami, FL 33131 E-mail: omar@cbato.net

Tel: (305) 536-5300

Fax: (305) 536-7577 Graciela Juelle, Admin. Assistant

E-mail: <cbato@cbato.net> E-mail: grace@cbato.net

website:

Office of Strategic Trade & Foreign Policy Controls

Bureau of industry and Security

U.S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C.

Tel: (202) 482-3283

Fax: (202) 482-6088

Website:

Office of Foreign Assets Control

U.S. Department of Treasury

Tel: (305) 810-5140

Fax on Demand Service: (202) 622-0077

Website: <http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac>

U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Inc.\
30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10112-0002\
Tel: (212) 246-1444

Fax: (212) 246-2345\
Website:

Carlos Alamilla

AVATAR Ltd. Corp.

1825 Ponce de León Blvd. #214

Coral Gables, Fl 33134

Tel: (305) 358-4175

Fax:(305) 373-2728

E-mail:

Buró de Información (Bureau of Information)

Cámara de Comercio de la República de Cuba (Chamber of Commerce of the
Republic of Cuba)

Calle 21 Esquina A, Vedado

Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba

Tel: 011 (537) 55-1321/22, 55-1324, 55-1931, 55-1452

Fax: 011 (537) 33-3042

E-mail:

Website:

**APPENDIX V. USEFUL WEBSITES/LINKS**

A. U.S. Government websites/links.

1\.

USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service website. This site contains the
following information related to Cuba:

A. Answers to frequently asked questions;

B. General agricultural background;

C. Commodity fact sheets;

D. U.S. foreign policy, travel guidance, and general background
information;

E. Export & trade guidance (with links to USDOC/BXA and OFAC websites);

F. Trade data; and

G. U.S. Legislation (Trade Sanctions Reform & Export Enhancement Act of
2000)

In addition, provides:

a\. Federal Register Notices for exports of agricultural commodities to
Cuba;

b\. A list of eligible agricultural commodities under Section 902(1) of
the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (Public
Law 106-387).

2\. [http://www.bxa.doc.gov]{.underline}

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration website.
Click on the options listed under \"Trade Sanctions Reform and Export
Enhancement Act implemented\" for BXA regulations, answers to frequently
asked questions, and other useful information.

3\. htpp://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control
website. This site offers an overview of Cuban assets control
regulations and guidelines and information on the Cuba sanctions
program, including information on travel restrictions to Cuba. A list of
OFAC-Authorized Travel Service Providers can be found at :

4\. www.fas.usda.gov/itp/cuba/title_ix.html

Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.

5\. htpp://state.gov/r/ei/bgn/2886.htm

U.S. Department of State website. This site offers general background
information on Cuba.

6\.

Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook website. The World Factbook
provides general information on Cuba and other countries around the
globe.

B. Non-U.S. Government websites/links.

1\.

Website of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, whose purpose is to
provide an efficient and sustainable educational structure in which the
United States business community may access accurate, consistent, and
timely information and analysis on matters and issues of interest
regarding United States-Republic of Cuba commercial, economic, and
political relations. The U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council does not
take positions with respect to United States-Republic of Cuba political
relations. *English.*

2\.

Cuban Chamber of Commerce website. This site offers information on their
trade services, directories, and numerous links to other useful Cuban
websites. *Spanish only.*

3\.

Cuban Customs website. This site offers detailed information on Customs
clearance legislation, requirements, procedures, and other useful
information. *English & Spanish.*

4\.

Cuban Office of Intellectual Property website. This site offers
information on trademark/brand name registration including a list of
legal firms offering registration services. *Spanish only.*