Fact Sheet Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Washington, DC September 7, 2001 Medical Sales to Cuba One element of U.S. foreign policy is to press the Cuban Government for change using an economic embargo that regulates financial, trade, andother transactions between the U.S. and Cuba. The embargo does not deny medicines and medical supplies to the Cuban people. On March 20, 1998, the U.S. Government took steps to expedite the sales and donations of medicines to Cuba. This was done through the streamlining of export procedures for medicines and medical equipment and the reduction in license processing time. Individuals and groups in the U.S. currently donate or sell millions of dollars in medicines annually to the Cuban people. New legislation passed by the Congress, Title IX of the FY 2001 Agriculture Appropriations bill, permits the sale of food and medicine to Cuba. On July 12, 2001, the Department of Commerce finalized regulations for the export of these products to Cuba. The regulations are found in the Federal Register Volume 66, no. 134, July 12, 2001/Rules and Regulations. U.S. Policy The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 established that the export of medicines and medical equipment to Cuba shall not be restricted under the embargo. The U.S. Government is authorized to issue licenses for the sale of medicine and medical supplies to Cuba. The major requirement for obtaining a license is to arrange for proper end-use monitoring. End-use monitoring ensures that the items will be used for their intended purpose and only for the benefit of the Cuban people. Licensing of Medical Sales
End-Use Monitoring
[End] |
This site is managed by the Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. |