Since cross-border online shopping becomes more and more popular, it's common to see the promotions on e-commerce platform or experience-sharing by YouTubers, so as to attract customers to purchase these products. Taipei Customs reminds importers must take notice of the regulations to avoid the possibility of being punished by the competent agencies, once the imports through online cross border shopping are subject to import regulations, or meat products should meet the requirements of quarantine measures.

Taipei Customs pointed out that, in accordance with "Regulations Governing Customs Clearance Procedures for Air Express Consignments", the declarations of imports subject to import regulations must be submitted through the general import/export forms. Simplified declaration forms are not allowed. The commonly seized food by customs includes "river snail rice noodle" or "dried shredded squid". Under the aforementioned situation of import regulations, the importers must provide the customs with import permits by competent agencies. Furthermore, if the imported goods are prohibited to import from China, the importer need to provide customs with another permit issued by Bureau of Foreign Trade. Once the importer is unable to provide these permits, the imported goods will be fined by the Customs and need to be returned abroad. In addition, under the "Statue for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases", those who import sausages, meat floss or pet food containing meat from epidemic areas without authorization shall be punished with a maximum of seven-year fixed-term imprisonment, and be fined of no more than three million New Taiwan Dollars.

Taipei Customs reminds customers who would like to shop cross-border online must check the ingredients of the imported goods, and be aware of the relevant import regulations before shopping online, and also contact the Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, and Bureau of Foreign Trade for more information.