In Taiwan, strict border inspections are conducted on imported food products for the purpose of ensuring food safety. In particular, detailed standards such as maximum residue limits for agricultural chemicals are established for fresh agricultural products, and if such standards are not met, importation is not permitted.
In this regard, on December 30, 2025, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that three lots of fresh strawberries imported from Japan had failed border inspections.
According to the announcement, the strawberries were found to contain the insecticides cyflumetofen, indoxacarb, and nitenpyram, each of which violated Taiwan’s regulations on pesticide residues. Specifically, cyflumetofen was detected at 0.07 ppm, exceeding the regulatory limit of 0.01 ppm. In addition, nitenpyram is classified in Taiwan as a substance that must not be detected in agricultural products, and its detection itself constitutes a regulatory violation.
As a result, the strawberries were not permitted to be imported and were subject to return or disposal. The Taiwanese authorities have increased the inspection sampling rate for Japanese strawberries to 100 percent each year during the period from November through May of the following year. Furthermore, according to statistics, among 158 lots of Japanese strawberries inspected during the most recent six-month period, approximately 3.8 percent, or six lots, were found to be non-compliant due to violations of pesticide residue regulations.
As demonstrated by this case, even agricultural products imported from Japan may, in practice, be denied importation if they do not comply with Taiwan’s standards. In addition to strawberries, there have been past cases in which Japanese melons and mandarins were judged non-compliant in border inspections due to violations of pesticide residue regulations. These cases indicate that even when products satisfy domestic standards in Japan, importation may be restricted as a result of assessment under standards uniquely established by Taiwan.
The background of Taiwan’s food regulations lies in an institutional framework that places strong emphasis on consumer protection. In Taiwan, food safety is clearly positioned under the law based on the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. This Act establishes management requirements for food at each stage, including production, importation, and distribution, and imported food products are also subject to its application. Food products that do not meet the applicable standards are excluded prior to entering market circulation.
In addition, Taiwan has established a specialized division under the Executive Yuan that is responsible for consumer protection, and consumer protection policies, including food safety, are implemented through cross-government coordination. Food safety issues are treated not merely as matters of customs clearance or trade, but as matters directly related to the health and safety of consumers. Accordingly, when violations are identified, administrative responses are prompt and clear, and it is important for business operators to understand the relevant regulations in advance and respond appropriately.
For Japanese companies considering the export of agricultural products to the Taiwanese market or engaging in food-related businesses, it is essential not only to comply with Japanese legal standards, but also to thoroughly understand Taiwan’s unique food safety standards and inspection systems. The recent case involving Japanese strawberries, as well as past cases involving mandarins and melons, can be regarded as illustrating one aspect of Taiwan’s stance on consumer protection and food safety.
