The Cuban State Council announced on Thursday an updated and harmonized version of Decree-Law 50, titled "On the Conservation, Improvement, and Sustainable Management of Soils and the Use of Fertilizers." This decree is detailed in pages 2 to 13 of the Special Edition No. 18 of the Official Gazette of 2026 and is signed by Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, the council's president.
Instead of introducing a completely new regulation, this publication consolidates previous changes into a single coherent document. These changes were initially made under Decree-Law 126 on July 22, 2026, which required the Minister of Justice to update, revise, and harmonize Decree-Law 50 within 30 working days.
Additionally, this special edition includes Decree 52 from the Council of Ministers, which serves as the regulation for Decree-Law 50 and was itself updated by Decree 172 in 2026.
Key Objectives and Scope
According to Article 1, the law’s primary goal is to "establish the general regulations for the conservation, improvement, and sustainable management of agricultural and forest soils and the utilization of fertilizers."
This regulation applies to all individuals and legal entities—whether landowners, users, or holders—engaged in agricultural, sugarcane, forestry, fruit, or protected area activities.
Guiding Principles and Responsibilities
The Decree-Law outlines six guiding principles: sustainability, prevention, progressiveness, responsibility, subsidiarity, and cooperation.
Regarding the principle of responsibility, the document states that "the party responsible for causing soil degradation must cover the costs of preventive and corrective rehabilitation actions."
New Systems and Alignments
The regulation also establishes the National System of Soils and Fertilizers, categorizes agro-productivity levels for different soil types, and oversees the use and commercialization of fertilizers.
Moreover, it aligns Cuba's regulatory framework with the Sustainable Development Goals and United Nations conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and combating desertification and drought.
Historical Context and Agricultural Challenges
Decree-Law 50 evolved from Decree 179 of 1993, which governed soil protection and conservation in Cuba for nearly 30 years until it was replaced by the original version of this law in August 2021.
This update is part of a broader agrarian reform initiated by the Cuban regime in 2026, which included several measures aimed at boosting agricultural recovery and adapting legislation to the so-called Economic and Social Transformations approved that year.
The backdrop to these regulations is the severe degradation of Cuba's agricultural lands. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023 reveal that 70% of the agricultural area has low organic matter content, 71% is affected by erosion, and over 1 million hectares are experiencing salinization or sodification. These issues are recognized by the regime as a direct threat to the country's food security.
Understanding Cuba's Soil and Fertilizer Regulations
What is the purpose of Decree-Law 50 in Cuba?
Decree-Law 50 aims to establish general regulations for the conservation, improvement, and sustainable management of agricultural and forest soils and the use of fertilizers in Cuba.
Who is affected by these new soil regulations in Cuba?
The regulations apply to all individuals and legal entities that own, use, or hold land for agricultural, sugarcane, forestry, fruit, or protected area activities in Cuba.
How do these regulations align with international goals?
The regulations align with the Sustainable Development Goals and United Nations conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and efforts to combat desertification and drought.