[Sarah Armstrong]

Is anyone familiar with the new rules (if any) regarding sending used clothes into the DR from the USA? We have been sending a box or two a month to my wife's family. We are using Martinez cargo express out of Orlando. For about a year now we have had no problems at all, but our last box was held up at the port in Santo Domingo by DR customs for over two weeks. Martinez told us that customs held up 3 shipping containers of boxes. The rule we have been under until now is you could send used cloths and food with no extra customs fees, and the box could contain all food or all clothes, it didn't matter. Now Martinez tells us the new rule is each box must contain half food and half clothes. I know there are any number of reasons for this change, but does anyone else know about this? Thank you