Popular Bubble Tea Shop's Imported Chinese Steamer Paper Fails Inspection, 300kg Blocked at Border
Taiwan's TFDA announced that 300kg of steamer paper imported from China by a popular Ximending bubble tea and xiaolongbao shop failed dissolution tests and must be returned or destroyed. Following this incident, along with non-compliant Chinese tea sets, the TFDA will increase border inspections for similar products from China.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 13:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 13:31 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 14:46 (1h 14m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei 21st) The Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) today announced a list of non-compliant products at the border. A popular bubble tea shop in Ximending imported steamer paper from China, which was found to fail dissolution tests. A total of 300kg must be returned or destroyed according to regulations, and border inspections for the importer will be strengthened.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Food and Drug Administration today released its latest list of non-compliant products at the border, totaling 13 items. These include frozen sweet potatoes from Vietnam and fried chicken sauce from Indonesia, which were detected with excessive pesticide levels or other non-compliant conditions, all of which are to be returned or destroyed.
This time, well-known businesses are also on the list. A popular bubble tea and xiaolongbao shop in Ximending, favored by tourists, imported steamer paper from mainland China, and its dissolution test results were non-compliant. A total of 300kg must be returned or destroyed according to regulations.
Liu Fang-ming, Director of the TFDA's Northern Management Center, told reporters that according to the "Hygiene Standards for Food Utensils, Containers and Packaging," for parts of paper products that directly contact food and contain plastic materials, the dissolution test for evaporation residue using 4% acetic acid (95℃, 30 minutes) has a passing standard of 30ppm or less. However, the evaporation residue value for this batch of non-compliant products was 35ppm, which exceeded the standard.
Liu Fang-ming said that for this importer, border adjustments will be made to strengthen batch sampling inspections, with a sampling ratio of 20% to 50%.
TFDA statistics for the past six months, from October 13, 2025, to April 13, 2026, show that among 166 batches of "other paper or paperboard dishes, plates, cups and similar products, with food-contact surfaces containing other plastic materials" from China, 6 batches were found non-compliant, with a non-compliance rate of 3.6%. The reason for non-compliance was unsatisfactory evaporation residue.
From today until May 20, the TFDA will implement strengthened batch sampling inspections for "other paper or paperboard dishes, plates, cups and similar products, with food-contact surfaces containing other plastic materials" from China at the border, with a sampling ratio of 20% to 50%.
In addition, an importer imported a Chinese tea set from China. Using 4% acetic acid at room temperature for 24 hours, the dissolution test result showed lead at 39.7ppm. According to regulations, for glass, ceramics, and enameled utensils or containers with a depth of 2.5cm or more and a capacity of 1.1 liters or more, the lead standard is 2.5ppm or less. This batch of Chinese tea sets must be returned or destroyed.
Liu Fang-ming stated that the TFDA will adjust border controls for this importer to strengthen batch sampling inspections, with a sampling ratio of 20% to 50%. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150421
(CNA reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei 21st) The Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) today announced a list of non-compliant products at the border. A popular bubble tea shop in Ximending imported steamer paper from China, which was found to fail dissolution tests. A total of 300kg must be returned or destroyed according to regulations, and border inspections for the importer will be strengthened.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Food and Drug Administration today released its latest list of non-compliant products at the border, totaling 13 items. These include frozen sweet potatoes from Vietnam and fried chicken sauce from Indonesia, which were detected with excessive pesticide levels or other non-compliant conditions, all of which are to be returned or destroyed.
This time, well-known businesses are also on the list. A popular bubble tea and xiaolongbao shop in Ximending, favored by tourists, imported steamer paper from mainland China, and its dissolution test results were non-compliant. A total of 300kg must be returned or destroyed according to regulations.
Liu Fang-ming, Director of the TFDA's Northern Management Center, told reporters that according to the "Hygiene Standards for Food Utensils, Containers and Packaging," for parts of paper products that directly contact food and contain plastic materials, the dissolution test for evaporation residue using 4% acetic acid (95℃, 30 minutes) has a passing standard of 30ppm or less. However, the evaporation residue value for this batch of non-compliant products was 35ppm, which exceeded the standard.
Liu Fang-ming said that for this importer, border adjustments will be made to strengthen batch sampling inspections, with a sampling ratio of 20% to 50%.
TFDA statistics for the past six months, from October 13, 2025, to April 13, 2026, show that among 166 batches of "other paper or paperboard dishes, plates, cups and similar products, with food-contact surfaces containing other plastic materials" from China, 6 batches were found non-compliant, with a non-compliance rate of 3.6%. The reason for non-compliance was unsatisfactory evaporation residue.
From today until May 20, the TFDA will implement strengthened batch sampling inspections for "other paper or paperboard dishes, plates, cups and similar products, with food-contact surfaces containing other plastic materials" from China at the border, with a sampling ratio of 20% to 50%.
In addition, an importer imported a Chinese tea set from China. Using 4% acetic acid at room temperature for 24 hours, the dissolution test result showed lead at 39.7ppm. According to regulations, for glass, ceramics, and enameled utensils or containers with a depth of 2.5cm or more and a capacity of 1.1 liters or more, the lead standard is 2.5ppm or less. This batch of Chinese tea sets must be returned or destroyed.
Liu Fang-ming stated that the TFDA will adjust border controls for this importer to strengthen batch sampling inspections, with a sampling ratio of 20% to 50%. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150421