Taiwan: Taiwan Import Inspections Overview

Taiwan operates a risk-based, three-tier inspection system for imported agricultural products, with intensity levels ranging from two to ten percent random sampling at the standard level to 100 percent inspection at the batch-by-batch level. A single shipment failure triggers escalation to enhanced inspection (20-50 percent selection rate), while a second failure results in 100 percent batch-by-batch inspection. Inspection procedures differ between food-grade products regulated by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration and feed-grade products regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture. Testing methods are primarily adopted from U.S. FDA, USDA, and other international agencies. Failed shipments may be returned, destroyed, or in some cases undergo sequential container inspection to separate compliant from non-compliant products. Repeated failures trigger escalating consequences, including importer-level suspensions and potential country-level import suspensions affecting all U.S. exporters of that product type.