Ministry of Agriculture: Imported Potatoes Sprouting or Exceeding Solanine Limits Will Be Returned or Destroyed
Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that US imported processing potatoes will face strict border checks. Any potatoes with sprouts over 0.5 cm or solanine over 200 ppm will be rejected or destroyed.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 12:44
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Central News
(Central News Agency, Reporter Lu Yanci, Taipei 23rd) Regarding the new quarantine regulations for imported processing potatoes from the US, the Ministry of Agriculture reiterated today that during border inspections, any processing potatoes found with sprouts exceeding 0.5 cm or solanine exceeding 200 ppm will be returned or destroyed. Currently, all US imported potatoes on the market are for fresh consumption; processing potatoes are not expected to be imported until July this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency announced the implementation of the "Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of US Processing Potatoes" on February 6 this year, sparking public concern about food safety issues.
The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee invited the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics of the Executive Yuan to present a special report and take questions on "how the border control, quarantine, and inspection mechanisms for imported potatoes protect citizens' food safety, and the execution of the budget for post-market spot checks."
KMT legislators Yen Kuan-heng, Lin Te-fu, Lee Yen-hsiu, Lai Shyh-bao, and DPP legislator Wu Ping-jui all focused on the new quarantine rules for US imported processing potatoes during their interpellations.
Regarding the new rules, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i explained that imported potatoes are divided into three categories: seed, fresh consumption, and processing. In the past, for fresh and processing potatoes, if sprouts exceeded 0.5 cm or solanine exceeded 200 ppm, they were immediately returned. The new regulations for fresh consumption remain unchanged, but for processing potatoes, if solanine exceeds 200 ppm during border checks, they must be returned. If they are found carrying soil, 8 specific pests, or sprouts over 0.5 cm, they will also be ordered returned and destroyed.
Hu added that currently, 60% of each batch is sampled at the border, a rate far higher than the general 5% to 10% standard. Regarding penalties, according to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act, fines between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000 can be imposed. As to whether "piece-by-piece inspection" is possible, he said it could be done inside designated processing plants cooperating with quarantine, but not 100% at border inspections.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang explained the current quarantine practice: if the Ministry of Agriculture finds sprouted potatoes at the border, they will be removed; the Ministry of Health and Welfare tests for solanine, and if it exceeds 200 ppm, the entire batch will be returned. A batch may contain three containers, all of which will be returned or destroyed and cannot enter the market. He said the FDA tests for solanine, heavy metals, and pesticide residues; if even one item exceeds the limit, it will definitely be returned or destroyed.
He pointed out that whether a potato has sprouted is not necessarily related to solanine concentration, and Taiwan's inspection standards have not changed. Since 2018, the standard has been that solanine must not exceed 200 ppm, a standard also adopted by Canada.
Compared to Japanese standards, Hu Jong-i explained that Taiwan's regulations are stricter because Japan only tests for two types of pests and does not regulate sprouting. A sprouted potato does not necessarily mean it has solanine, which requires further testing.
Hu added that so far, all US imported potatoes are for fresh consumption, with none for processing purposes. US processing potatoes are expected to be imported only after July. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture found that fresh and processing potatoes share the same tariff code, so they have applied to the Ministry of Finance to separate the import codes for the two.
Lee Yen-hsiu pressed further, stating that the new rules separate the management of US processing and fresh potatoes, but the real risk lies in whether designated processing plants have adequate sorting machines and supporting measures. Moreover, US potatoes frequently use the sprout inhibitor chlorpropham, which may pose endocrine and carcinogenic risks. Compared to the EU's tolerance limit of 0.2 ppm for chlorpropham residues, Taiwan's standard is 30 ppm.
Chuang Jen-hsiang responded that the standard for many countries, including the US and Japan, is 30 ppm. (Editor: Lin Kelun, Wan Shuzhang) 1150423
(Central News Agency, Reporter Lu Yanci, Taipei 23rd) Regarding the new quarantine regulations for imported processing potatoes from the US, the Ministry of Agriculture reiterated today that during border inspections, any processing potatoes found with sprouts exceeding 0.5 cm or solanine exceeding 200 ppm will be returned or destroyed. Currently, all US imported potatoes on the market are for fresh consumption; processing potatoes are not expected to be imported until July this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency announced the implementation of the "Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of US Processing Potatoes" on February 6 this year, sparking public concern about food safety issues.
The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee invited the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics of the Executive Yuan to present a special report and take questions on "how the border control, quarantine, and inspection mechanisms for imported potatoes protect citizens' food safety, and the execution of the budget for post-market spot checks."
KMT legislators Yen Kuan-heng, Lin Te-fu, Lee Yen-hsiu, Lai Shyh-bao, and DPP legislator Wu Ping-jui all focused on the new quarantine rules for US imported processing potatoes during their interpellations.
Regarding the new rules, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i explained that imported potatoes are divided into three categories: seed, fresh consumption, and processing. In the past, for fresh and processing potatoes, if sprouts exceeded 0.5 cm or solanine exceeded 200 ppm, they were immediately returned. The new regulations for fresh consumption remain unchanged, but for processing potatoes, if solanine exceeds 200 ppm during border checks, they must be returned. If they are found carrying soil, 8 specific pests, or sprouts over 0.5 cm, they will also be ordered returned and destroyed.
Hu added that currently, 60% of each batch is sampled at the border, a rate far higher than the general 5% to 10% standard. Regarding penalties, according to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act, fines between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000 can be imposed. As to whether "piece-by-piece inspection" is possible, he said it could be done inside designated processing plants cooperating with quarantine, but not 100% at border inspections.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang explained the current quarantine practice: if the Ministry of Agriculture finds sprouted potatoes at the border, they will be removed; the Ministry of Health and Welfare tests for solanine, and if it exceeds 200 ppm, the entire batch will be returned. A batch may contain three containers, all of which will be returned or destroyed and cannot enter the market. He said the FDA tests for solanine, heavy metals, and pesticide residues; if even one item exceeds the limit, it will definitely be returned or destroyed.
He pointed out that whether a potato has sprouted is not necessarily related to solanine concentration, and Taiwan's inspection standards have not changed. Since 2018, the standard has been that solanine must not exceed 200 ppm, a standard also adopted by Canada.
Compared to Japanese standards, Hu Jong-i explained that Taiwan's regulations are stricter because Japan only tests for two types of pests and does not regulate sprouting. A sprouted potato does not necessarily mean it has solanine, which requires further testing.
Hu added that so far, all US imported potatoes are for fresh consumption, with none for processing purposes. US processing potatoes are expected to be imported only after July. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture found that fresh and processing potatoes share the same tariff code, so they have applied to the Ministry of Finance to separate the import codes for the two.
Lee Yen-hsiu pressed further, stating that the new rules separate the management of US processing and fresh potatoes, but the real risk lies in whether designated processing plants have adequate sorting machines and supporting measures. Moreover, US potatoes frequently use the sprout inhibitor chlorpropham, which may pose endocrine and carcinogenic risks. Compared to the EU's tolerance limit of 0.2 ppm for chlorpropham residues, Taiwan's standard is 30 ppm.
Chuang Jen-hsiang responded that the standard for many countries, including the US and Japan, is 30 ppm. (Editor: Lin Kelun, Wan Shuzhang) 1150423