Deregulating imports. Some countries impose various import restrictions, duties, and tariffs that limit the number of condoms imported and raise their prices (545). For example, among 63 countries examined in 1993, 34 had licensing requirements for condom importers. Of 38 countries with such information, 18 imposed duties ranging from 1% to 32% of import value (461).

In contrast, in Haiti and Rwanda the absence of taxes and tariffs on imported condoms has enabled social marketing programs to keep their prices low. In Haiti a packet of three social-marketing Pante condoms recently was priced at just 6 US cents (128). Other countries that impose no duties on imported condoms include Bangladesh, Botswana, the Dominican Republic, and Tanzania (228).

Ending restrictions on access. Some governments formally restrict access to condoms—for example, by prohibiting adolescents or unmarried women from buying them, or married women from buying them without their husbands' authorization (129, 549). Others restrict access through such policies as forbidding displays of condoms for self-service purchase in stores or prohibiting their sale in vending machines (108).

Liberalizing licensing. Removing unnecessary licensing requirements can promote access to condoms. Some governments, as in Kenya and Tanzania, have placed condoms and other contraceptives under the control of pharmacy boards or limited their sale to certain types of outlets (90, 276). In Tanzania and Colombia contraceptives must be registered and approved by the ministries of health (90, 91). In contrast, Bolivia and Belgium have declared that, because condoms are not medicines, they should not be subject to restrictions governing the sale of pharmaceuticals. Also, in Niger a government policy states that no prescriptions are necessary to purchase condoms (91, 228).