A bag of freeze-dried pet food bought overseas may be destroyed and bring heavy penalties. Feed, freeze-dried products or treats containing poultry or livestock ingredients generally require quarantine declaration. Violations may carry up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to NT$3 million, depending on origin and product type.
Restrictions depend on animal ingredients, not quantity or personal use. If processing temperatures or times are insufficient, animal disease pathogens may survive and enter Taiwan through imported products, so they cannot be shipped as ordinary goods.
Product names alone cannot determine quarantine requirements. Feed, jerky and freeze-dried products may face different rules according to ingredients, processing and origin. Availability for delivery to Taiwan means only that shipping is offered, not that the product meets import requirements.
Under the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases, undeclared quarantine items must be destroyed. Products not banned from disease-affected areas may result in fines of NT$50,000 to NT$1 million. Importing banned poultry or livestock meat from affected areas is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and an additional fine of up to NT$3 million.
Before ordering, buyers should verify ingredients, origin and import conditions, or choose legally imported or domestically manufactured products. Quarantine requirements are available in the "Import Quarantine" section of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture website, or through the toll-free hotline at 0800-761590.
