According to Subparagraph 2, Article 17 of Foreign Trade Act, traders shall not fail to or untruthfully label the source identification or the country of origin as required on imports and exports. Moreover, based on the present import codes, marking of country of origin is not required except for chapter 61, heading 6115, chapter 62, 63, 64, 69 and 94 of HS codes and other related regulations. Importing goods with untruthful source identification or the country of origin is subject to penalties based on the Processing Principles of Unfaithfully Labeled Import Goods.

Taipei Customs seized an assembled Laser machine with false declaration. The declared country of origin is ‘CN’ while the label on the machine was ‘MADE IN TAIWAN’. Due to the Processing Principles of Unfaithfully Labeled Import Goods, traders shall not unfaithfully declare the country of origin or mark ‘MADE IN TAIWAN or MADE IN R.O.C.’ or any other misunderstanding characters or images on the article itself, the inside or outside package, the instruction and the catalog. The Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs will review the cases with full consideration and discretion under Subparagraph 6, Paragraph 1, Article 28 of Foreign Trade Act. Importers could apply for correction subject to Customs’ approval. The articles recognized as legal can pass the Customs clearance; if not, they will be shut out.

Taipei Customs will strengthen inspection of source identification or country of origin of import or transit goods to prevent illegal transportation. Taipei Customs also urges every trader to obey Foreign Trade Act and the related regulations which will speed up Customs clearance of goods.