[Overview of Taiwan's Import-Prohibited Commodities]

■ Outline

In Taiwan, a variety of commodities are designated as import-prohibited commodities owing to political, economic, and social reasons. From among import-prohibited commodities, some commodities are designated clearly by item, but, others are designated as an abstract category. Especially, you need to note that import-prohibited commodities in Taiwan are involved with the cold war with mainland China.

■ Base Regulations

ㅇAccording to the Taiwan's Trade Act, organizing agency may prohibit trade related to specified regions, specified countries and specified commodities in consultation with the Executive Yuan by taking national security, international treaty, etc. into account.

ㅇAccording to the Taiwan's Customs Act, ① currency counterfeited or modulated, printed security and counterfeit money, ② commodities infringing on trade mark rights and property rights, and ③ commodities specified as not being allowed for import, or as import-prohibited commodities by other individual law shall be specified as import-prohibited commodities.

■ Import-Prohibited Commodities in Principle

General people may not import the commodities listed as below in principle, but such commodities may be imported for the case that special permission is granted for academic research, and national defense, etc.

ㅇWeaponry;

General traders other than Taiwanese government, or military agency whose permission is granted shall not handle such articles.

ㅇNarcotics and pathogens;

General traders other than Taiwanese government or research institutions, hospitals, etc. whose permission from government is granted shall not handle such articles.

ㅇSpecified animals and plants or products thereof;

Imports may be prohibited for items which are likely to do harms on human health, or to destroy ecological environment, which are specified by relevant law such as [Quarantine Regulations for Import Plants or Plant Products], etc. and animals and products thereof which are likely to spread BSE and infectious diseases.

ㅇWildlife, and endangered animals and products thereof;

ㅇCounterfeit currency, securities and bank notes, and counterfeit printing plates;

ㅇGambling instruments and lottery issued by foreign countries and the equivalent tickets;

ㅇBooks, photos and obscene items hampering good morals;

ㅇBooks and supplies for Communist propaganda;

ㅇCommodities that infringe intellectual property rights;

ㅇProhibited commodities specified by other laws.

■ Unconditional Import Prohibition

Taiwan prohibits imports against specified commodities from specified countries unconditionally, and such commodities are as below:

☉ Import prohibition of commodities made in China

1) Items specified in CCC(HS code)

From among commodities whose country of origin is China, commodities specified by CCC(HS code) of Taiwan as import-prohibited commodities may not be allowed for import(around 2,200 items by 11-digit).

Provided, that the number has been reduced annually owing to reconciliatory atmosphere between mainland China and Taiwan.

2)Import-prohibited commodities related to ideology

Commodities made in China whose relics of ideology remain as below shall not be imported to Taiwan.

ㅇCommodities attaching with flag of P.R.C), or coat of arms;

ㅇCommodities with brand of P.R.C and the equivalent commodities, that is, commodities with specific political natures of brand such as national flag of P.R.C, and coat of arms, party flag of Communist;

ㅇCommodities with marks(party flag, party coat of arms, etc.) related to Communist party;

ㅇCommodities with marks of national flag of P.R.C and its similar marks;

ㅇOther commodities containing China's system and political natures.

☉ Import prohibition of commodities made in North Korea

In order to protect farms in Taiwan, 6 items including garlic, vegetable, etc. shall not be imported from North Korea.

■ Effects of Handling Import-Prohibited Commodities

Against the person who imports relevant commodities without reasonable authority, Customs may confiscate or destroy such commodities, and such importer may be subjected to criminal penalties.

■ Other References

ㅇCommodities which fail to satisfy requirements for import regulations other than import-prohibited commodities listed above shall not undergo import clearance in Taiwan, which in fact, has similar effects with import prohibition.

ㅇThis program is guiding you through specified import-prohibited items from China and North Korea by item(HS code).

But, this program doesn't provide information on abstract import-prohibited commodities such as items praising communist, weaponry, etc. Accordingly, it should be noted that abstract import-prohibited commodities shall be subjected to individual determination, or authoritative interpretation of Customs based on the purpose of law.