Prohibition & Restrictions
Under the Customs and Border Control Act, there are some categories of goods which cannot be imported or are subject to restrictions on importation.
Prohibited goods are those not allowed to be imported into the Cayman Islands. Restricted goods can only be lawfully imported with the required license(s) or permit(s).
In addition to Customs and Border Control requirements, many of these import prohibitions and restrictions are also subject to laws and regulations governed by the Penal Code, whose enforcement Customs and Border Control collaborates with. For instance, these rules and regulations may restrict or forbid acceptance. This covers all importations, including mail-order importations. While it might not be possible to include every item, several categories of articles are covered below.
Among other things, Customs and Border Control oversees enforcing import and export restrictions, such as those pertaining to the possession of weapons and dangerous substances that are illegal.
Any breach of the restrictions outlined in the Customs and Border Control Act (2022 Revision), or any other legislation could lead to the offender being prosecuted and facing severe penalties.
Counterfeit goods
· Counterfeit coins and notes are prohibited.
· Items displaying markings that are false or improperly use a registered trademark may be seized and forfeited.
Gaming Machines
· Instruments and appliances for gambling, and their parts and accessories are prohibited
Firearms
· All firearms (including air guns/pistols, electric stunning devices, pepper sprays, spear guns, flare guns, and vests), ammunition, and bulletproof vests are forbidden unless they are accompanied by a permission and firearms license that have been granted and signed by the Commissioner of Police.
Armaments and weapons of war
· All firearms, ammunition, and weaponry for warfare, including automatic rifles, machine and submachine guns, and any other type of weapon designed to discharge toxic liquids or gases.
Other weapons
· It is forbidden to import bows, catapults, or other manually operated weapons that can shoot arrows or other missiles. However, a natural person may import such objects if they have a permit signed by the Commissioner of Police and are using them in connection with competitive sports or activities involving the cultural or historical aspects of weapons.
· Spear guns and Hawaiian slings are prohibited under the Marine Conservation Act.
Goods from Embargoed Countries
· The import of rice, sugar and cement is prohibited, except with the permission of the Governor, from countries of origin other than: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Israel, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Republic of Honduras, United Kingdom and Commonwealth Countries, United States of America, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, and Panama.
Structures
· Prefabricated structures other than storehouses and airplane hangars cannot be imported.
Vehicles
· Written approval from the Director of Licensing is required for the importation or use of vehicles such as a double decker omnibus a "beach buggy" or "dune buggy", as well as any similar vehicles, and parts of the above mentioned vehicles;
· It is forbidden to import caravans and any type of Hummer automobile wider than 6.8 feet;
· Certain vehicles 8 years and older are prohibited under the Customs and Border Control (Prohibited Goods) (Amendment) Order, 2023;
· The import of any omnibus is prohibited unless such omnibus conforms to the following conditions-
(a) doors for passenger use must be located on the near-side of the omnibus;
(b) no door for passenger use, other than one door for the exclusive use of the driver, may be located on the off-side of the omnibus;
(c) an adequate number of emergency exits must be provided;
(d) doors and emergency exits must be clearly marked on the inside and outside and must be capable of being readily opened from the outside of the omnibus;
(e) doors for passenger use must be so contrived as to be incapable of opening accidentally while the omnibus is in motion; and
(f) doors for passenger use must be equipped with handrails, steps and lighting of a strength and design sufficient to ensure the safety of passengers making use of them.
Under subparagraph 4(4) of the Customs and Border Control (Prohibited Goods) (Amendment) Order, 2023- "door" includes a door giving access to a luggage compartment.
· Any motor vehicle built to carry more than nine passengers, not including the driver, may not be imported into, or used in the Islands without the prior authorization of the Governor or Public Transportation Board. The passenger door on these kinds of vehicles must open from the left side
· For information on certain other vehicles which may be prohibited or restricted under other legislation, please contact Department of Vehicles & Drivers' Licensing at https://www.dvdl.gov.ky/
Obscene articles
· Obscene writings, drawings, prints, paintings, printed materials, images, posters, emblems, photos, cinematographs, films, discs, tapes, and other obscene items are prohibited.
· Publications contrary to the public interest, which are the subject of an order made by the Governor in Cabinet.
VHF Radios, Radar, and CB Radios
· A valid license permission or certificate is required for importers of radar devices, including VHF and CB radios, except where they are exempted. For more information, please contact the Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service.
Marine Radios
· The import of marine radio transmitting equipment for operation in the A.M. mode only within the bands 1605 and 4000 kHz is prohibited.
Poisons
· The import of paraquat dichloride and any derivative of paraquat dichloride is prohibited.
The Animals Act, The Endangered Species and Propagation Act, The Plants Act, and any other legislation that prohibits or restricts the import or export of specific goods, as well as any regulations that the governor may occasionally prescribe, are the sources of additional prohibitions and restrictions. Copies of all Acts can be purchased from the Cayman Islands Parliament.