U.S. changes gift parcel policy for Cuba

U.S. changes gift parcel policy for Cuba    The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has placed new limits on gift parcels bound for Cuba.
   On Oct. 10, 2003, President Bush formed the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba to identify ways to speed up Cuba’s transition to an open society and identify federal government programs that could help the Cuban people during the transition. The commission delivered its report to the president on May 1.
   The commission’s report found that while these parcels provide help to the Cuban people, they may also benefit the Castro regime.
   “Such parcels decrease the burden on the Cuban regime to provide for the basic needs of its people, enabling the regime to dedicate more of its limited resources to strengthening its repressive apparatus,” the Commerce agency said. “Moreover, through delivery charges, the regime is able to generate additional sources of much needed hard foreign currency.”
   From the commission’s recommendations, the Bureau of Industry and Security has reduced its list of eligible goods to be shipped in parcels to Cuba. Acceptable items include food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, receive-only radios and batteries.
   The rule no longer permits parcel shipments of seeds, clothes, personal hygiene items, veterinary medicines and supplies, fishing equipment and soap-making devices.
   The new rule also limits the delivery of gift parcels to Cuba containing items other than food to once a month per household, instead of once a month per individual. It also eliminates the ability to send gift parcels to Cuba’s communist party officials.
   The rule becomes effective June 30, the Bureau of Industry and Security said.