Arriving travelers who bring animal quarantine objects such as meats and meat products into Taiwan without declaring quarantine are subject to administrative fines of NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000 under Article 45-1 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases; for pork products from countries or areas with African swine fever (ASF) occurrences within the past 3 years, revised penalty standards effective June 4, 2026 (115) impose fines of NT$200,000 for the first offense and NT$1,000,000 for second and subsequent offenses. Unreported plant items like fresh fruits face fines of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 under Article 25-1 of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act. The safest approach is never to pack beef jerky, pork floss, sausages, meat mooncakes, zongzi, dumplings, or fresh fruit; if already carried, voluntarily discard them into quarantine bins located in arrival corridors.
Reminder: The roster of countries/areas experiencing African swine fever within the past 3 years is updated periodically by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA); for example, Singapore was removed on April 20, 2026 (115), whereas South Sudan was added on September 19. Information here reflects APHIA listings as of November 2, 2026; actual fines depend on departure origin, product type, and official disposition letters.
Penalty Amounts: APHIA Official Discretionary Fine Scale
While the statute establishes an administrative range of NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000 (1 萬 to 100 萬元), specific fine amounts depend on departure origin, product category, and repeat offense count under the revised standards effective June 4, 2026 (115):
| Departure Origin | Product Category | First Offense | Second Offense | Third & Subsequent |
|---|
| Countries/areas with ASF within past 3 years | Pork and other porcine products | NT$200,000 | NT$1,000,000 | NT$1,000,000 |
| Countries/areas with ASF within past 3 years | Other animal quarantine objects | NT$10,000 | NT$300,000 | NT$300,000 |
| Areas not disease-free for FMD, classical swine fever, or HPAI | Cloven-hoofed meats, pork, poultry high-risk items | NT$30,000 | NT$300,000 | NT$1,000,000 |
| Same as above | Other non-corresponding animal items | NT$10,000 | NT$100,000 | NT$300,000 |
| Other countries/areas outside the above | Animal quarantine objects | NT$10,000 | NT$100,000 | NT$300,000 |
Key legal details: "Second and subsequent offenses" refer to repeat violations within 3 years starting from the day following lawful service of the prior disposition; multiple overlapping violations in one batch are punished at the highest tier; registered low-income households committing a first offense may have penalties reduced by half upon proof, not falling below NT$10,000. Mitigating or aggravating adjustments require stated reasons.
Which Countries Are Designated African Swine Fever Affected Areas
In Asia, APHIA lists: Mainland China (including Hong Kong and Macao), Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Bhutan, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In Europe, 24 countries including Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland are listed, alongside multiple African and American nations and Papua New Guinea. South Sudan was added on September 19, 2026.
Japan is not on the ASF list; however, this does not allow travelers to freely carry meat. Under the Ministry of Agriculture announcement of October 24, 2026 (115), Japan is free of ASF and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but is not on the disease-free list for classical swine fever or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (no Asian country is free of classical swine fever). Under discretionary Item 2, bringing pork or poultry products from Japan without inspection carries fines of NT$30,000 for the first offense, NT$300,000 for the second within 3 years, and NT$1,000,000 for the third; other animal products incur NT$10,000. Singapore was removed from ASF in April 115 but remains infected for swine fever. Cloven-hoofed meats are strictly banned from swine fever zones. Most Asian nations are animal disease epidemic areas; avoid packing animal products from abroad.
Which Food Products Require Quarantine Inspection and Which Are Exempt
The APHIA Passenger Quarantine Reference Table (July 27, 2022 / 111 version) categorizes common foodstuffs into three groups:
| Category | Product Examples | Required Procedure |
|---|
| Must declare animal quarantine (prohibited without foreign veterinary certificate) | Fresh, frozen, or cooked meats (including vacuum packs); jerky, meat floss, sausages, bacon, ham; meat zongzi, buns, dumplings, pizza, mooncakes, meat-floss egg rolls, inflight meal boxes; fresh or processed eggs (century/salted eggs); pet food/rawhides with beef; raw milk | Ordinary travelers cannot obtain export certificates; in practice, do not carry them, or discard in airport agricultural waste bins |
| Exempt from animal quarantine declaration | Sterilized shelf-stable milk, milk powder, cheese; retort-pouch commercially sterilized canned foods; meatless cookies, cakes, bread; instant noodles, porridge, powdered soup mixes; dried or salted seafood | Permitted, but subject to customs quantitative allowances (total 6 kg agricultural products) |
| Plants: Strictly prohibited | Fresh fruits, melons, betel nuts, soil, live insects (beetles), host plants from pest-infested areas | Do not carry into Taiwan |
| Plants: Exempt from quarantine declaration | Dried fruits, dried mushrooms, jam, candied fruits, kimchi, roasted nuts, tea leaves, coffee beans, spice powders | Permitted |
Note: soups or stuffed noodles with visible meat chunks, ground meat, ham, or floss require quarantine declaration; fully cooked eggs with solid whites and yolks and clean shells are exempt. For unlisted items, consult APHIA.
Customs Duty-Free Allowances vs Quarantine Regulations
Customs baggage clearance rules establish a 6 kg aggregate cap for agricultural/seafood items (e.g. rice, cooked peanuts, garlic, dried daylily, dried mushrooms, and tea capped at 1 kg each), while explicitly prohibiting fresh fruit and live animal products (except dogs, cats, rabbits, and processed seafood compliant with veterinary laws). Permissible items must satisfy both weight allowances and quarantine rules; prohibited items trigger penalties regardless of quantity. For duty-free allowances on liquor and general goods, see Customs Duty-Free Allowances Guide.
Online ordering or overseas postal shipping is likewise banned: Article 34 Paragraph 3 provides that quarantine items cannot be sent via mail; parcels will be returned, seized, or destroyed.
How to Clear Customs Without Penalty Upon Arrival
- Before traveling: do not purchase meat snacks, jerky, or fresh fruit to bring home.
- If already carrying items: locate APHIA agricultural discard bins in the arrival corridor or hall and voluntarily throw them away.
- If holding export quarantine certificates: fill out the ROC Customs Declaration Form, proceed to the Red Channel, and apply for quarantine inspection.
- When in doubt: ask officers at the Red Channel or quarantine counter; never risk walking through the Green Channel.
APHIA hotlines: Central Agency 02-2343-1401, Keelung Branch 02-2424-7363, Taoyuan Airport Branch 03-398-2663, Taichung Branch 04-2285-0198, Kaohsiung Branch 07-801-5880. Asking at airport quarantine counters upon landing is fastest.
Context: APHIA reported on September 19, 2026 that Taiwan reinstated its self-declared ASF-free status on April 6, maintaining zero tolerance against illegal pork imports, frequently intercepting pork mooncakes during Mid-Autumn season. For transportation from Taoyuan Airport into Taipei, see Airport MRT Fares and Schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fine for bringing a bag of pork jerky from Vietnam for the first time?
Vietnam is on the ASF affected area list; failing to declare pork products incurs an administrative fine of NT$200,000 for the first offense, and NT$1,000,000 for repeat offenses within 3 years.
Can I bring instant noodles back to Taiwan?
APHIA reference tables list instant noodles, instant porridge, and solid/powder soup bases as exempt from animal quarantine declaration. However, soup pouches containing visible pieces of meat require inspection; inquire at the quarantine counter before entry.
What is the fine for bringing pork products from Japan (such as char siu or ham)?
Japan is not on the ASF list, so the NT$200,000 fine does not apply; however, Japan is not classified as classical swine fever free. Uninspected pork items from Japan incur NT$30,000 for the first offense, NT$300,000 for the second within 3 years, and NT$1,000,000 for the third. Do not pack meat.
What is the penalty for bringing fresh fruit from Japan?
Fresh fruit is strictly prohibited; failure to declare incurs fines of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 under Plant Protection and Quarantine Act Article 25-1; Article 25-2 allows mitigation for minor infractions.
Will I still be fined if I throw away jerky in airport discard bins before customs?
No. Travelers may voluntarily dispose of products in discard bins located along arrival corridors. Fines apply only when entering customs without declaring.
Are canned meats permitted?
Commercially sterilized, shelf-stable canned goods for human consumption meeting FDA import standards are exempt from declaration; vacuum-packed jerky is not canned food and requires quarantine.
Last updated: 2026-11-03
Compiled by SOSfix from official open data for general reference; consult APHIA or airport inspection desks for specific cases.
Sources
- Laws & Regulations Database: Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases (Amended Dec 13, 2019 / ROC 108, verified 2026-11-02): Article 34 inspection rules and mail prohibition, Article 45-1 fines NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000.
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency: Penalty Standards for Article 34 Violations (Order No. 1151868008, Jun 4, 2026 / 115, downloaded 2026-11-02): Tiered penalties including NT$200,000 and NT$1,000,000, 3-year repeat rule, low-income reductions.
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency: List of ASF Countries/Areas in Past 3 Years (Doc No. 1151867869, Apr 20, 2026 / 115, downloaded 2026-11-02): Global country list, deletion of Singapore.
- Central Emergency Operation Center: South Sudan Added to ASF List (Sep 19, 2026 / 2026-09-19, verified 2026-11-02): First offense NT$200,000, second NT$1,000,000, April 6 disease-free declaration.
- MOA Legal System: Animal Disease Free and Infected Countries Announcement (Announcement No. 1151869051, Oct 24, 2026 / 115, verified 2026-11-02): Japan ASF/FMD free status but non-free for swine fever and avian influenza.
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency: Inbound Traveler Quarantine Reference Table (Jul 27, 2022 / 111, downloaded 2026-11-02): Declarable vs exempt animal/plant products, discard bins, branch numbers.
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency: Inbound Traveler Animal Product Quarantine (Verified 2026-11-02): Cloven-hoofed and poultry bans, Asian disease zone warnings.
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency: Legal Grounds and Penalties (Verified 2026-11-02): Plant fines NT$3,000 to NT$15,000.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Plant Protection and Quarantine Act (Amended Jun 20, 2018 / ROC 107, verified 2026-11-02): Article 17 quarantine, Article 25-1 fines, Article 25-2 minor mitigation.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Regulations Governing Declaration & Clearance of Customs Baggage (Amended Jan 30, 2026 / 115, downloaded 2026-11-02): 6 kg agricultural total allowance and 1 kg item limits; fruit prohibitions.
