Taiwan Customs to Release US Potatoes Only After Quarantine Approval
The Ministry of Finance emphasized that US processing potatoes will only be released through customs after receiving official health and quarantine approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health, ensuring food safety.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 19:32 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (4h 30m after Collected)
(CNA Reporter Lyu Yen-tse, Taipei, 22nd) New quarantine regulations for the import of processed potatoes from the US to Taiwan have sparked food safety concerns. The Ministry of Finance stated today that customs will only proceed with tax collection and release operations after receiving official notification of passing results from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. If quarantine or inspection results are unsatisfactory, the importer must return or destroy the goods.
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Yuan will invite Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chon-chi, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, and Director-General of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics Chen Shu-tzu tomorrow to provide a special report and respond to inquiries on 'How border control, quarantine, and inspection mechanisms for potato imports protect national food safety and the execution of post-market sampling budgets.'
Regarding the focus on US processing potato import quarantine regulations, APHIA previously explained that in the past, US potatoes, whether for fresh consumption or processing, were subject to the 'Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Table Potatoes.' Since processing and fresh potatoes have different post-import flows, Taiwan and the US, after multiple discussions based on scientific principles, agreed to reference Japan's practices to set separate quarantine conditions for processing potatoes. If mold or sprouting is discovered after import, the whole unit must be discarded and cannot be processed, ensuring national food safety.
Regarding the import clearance process, the Ministry of Finance pointed out in a written report today that importers of fresh or chilled potatoes must not only file an import declaration with customs but also apply for plant quarantine with APHIA and food inspection with the FDA.
The Ministry of Finance explained that customs verifies whether the goods match the name, weight, and country of origin declared. Tax collection and release only occur after passing notifications are received from both APHIA and the FDA. If the goods fail either, the importer must return or destroy them according to the respective agency's notice.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Finance stated that the day after goods are released, customs sends import data to APHIA and the FDA for them to execute domestic post-market management.
The Ministry of Finance explained that it will continue to cooperate with APHIA and the FDA to handle import clearance business according to law, strengthen border cargo management, and provide relevant declaration data for competent authorities to use as a reference for domestic market management, maintaining public health and safety.
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Yuan will invite Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chon-chi, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, and Director-General of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics Chen Shu-tzu tomorrow to provide a special report and respond to inquiries on 'How border control, quarantine, and inspection mechanisms for potato imports protect national food safety and the execution of post-market sampling budgets.'
Regarding the focus on US processing potato import quarantine regulations, APHIA previously explained that in the past, US potatoes, whether for fresh consumption or processing, were subject to the 'Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Table Potatoes.' Since processing and fresh potatoes have different post-import flows, Taiwan and the US, after multiple discussions based on scientific principles, agreed to reference Japan's practices to set separate quarantine conditions for processing potatoes. If mold or sprouting is discovered after import, the whole unit must be discarded and cannot be processed, ensuring national food safety.
Regarding the import clearance process, the Ministry of Finance pointed out in a written report today that importers of fresh or chilled potatoes must not only file an import declaration with customs but also apply for plant quarantine with APHIA and food inspection with the FDA.
The Ministry of Finance explained that customs verifies whether the goods match the name, weight, and country of origin declared. Tax collection and release only occur after passing notifications are received from both APHIA and the FDA. If the goods fail either, the importer must return or destroy them according to the respective agency's notice.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Finance stated that the day after goods are released, customs sends import data to APHIA and the FDA for them to execute domestic post-market management.
The Ministry of Finance explained that it will continue to cooperate with APHIA and the FDA to handle import clearance business according to law, strengthen border cargo management, and provide relevant declaration data for competent authorities to use as a reference for domestic market management, maintaining public health and safety.