Before purchasing health supplements online from overseas, please review the 2022 Taiwan import regulations to understand the legal restrictions for personal use.
A. Personal Import Restrictions for Non-Prescription Supplements
*Quantity Limits: For non-prescription health supplements, you are limited to 12 bottles (including boxes, cans, or bags) of the same type and a total weight under 6kg.
*Assorted Shipments: A mixed shipment of different supplements is limited to 36 bottles total (in original packaging).
*Liquid Supplements: There is no limit on the number of bottles for liquid health supplements, but the total weight must not exceed 6kg (calculated as 100ml = 0.1kg).
*Ingredient Restrictions: Products must be vegetarian and must not contain meat products. Please inquire separately regarding seafood ingredients.
*Infant Formula: Purchasing baby milk powder or formula requires a "Special Import Application for Personal Use Medication" and is limited to 30kg.
*Specific Raw Materials: Ingredients like Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah are not confirmed as safe by the FDA; they must be imported as personal non-prescription drugs.
1.Application: This can be applied for once every six months (per half-year).
2.Limits: Max 12 bottles per type, 36 bottles total, and the total count cannot exceed 1,200 tablets/capsules.
B. Regulations for Products Classified as Medications
If ingredients are confirmed as medications, the following MOHW rules apply:
1.Hair Growth Liquid: Limited to a maximum of 12 bottles.
2.Melatonin and Ginkgo: Limited to a maximum of 12 bottles and a total of 1,200 capsules/tablets.
*Example: For Costco’s Natrol Melatonin Gummies (180 count per bottle), the limit is 6 bottles to stay under the 1,200-count cap.
Personal Use Limits for Small Quantities
Products exceeding the dosages listed below are legally classified as medications. If you intend to import more than 2 bottles of such products, you must apply for a "Special Import Application for Personal Use Medication" or contact the MOHW customer service at 02-27878000 before purchasing:
1.Vitamins & Nutrients (Dosage Thresholds):
*Lutein: Exceeding 30 mg.
*Coenzyme Q10: Exceeding 30 mg.
*Vitamin A: Exceeding 10,000 I.U..
*Vitamin B1: Exceeding 50 mg.
*Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Exceeding 100 mg.
*Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Exceeding 100 mg.
*Vitamin B6: Exceeding 80 mg.
*Vitamin B12: Exceeding 1,000 mcg.
*Vitamin D3: Exceeding 800 I.U..
*Vitamin E (dl-α-Tocopherol): Exceeding 400 I.U..
*Lactoferrin: Exceeding 100 mg.
2.Minerals (Dosage Thresholds):
*Zinc: Exceeding 30 mg (includes Zinc Citrate, Bisglycinate, Oxide, Gluconate, and Sulfate).
*Magnesium: Exceeding 600 mg (includes Magnesium Gluconate, Oxide, and Sulfate).
*Iron: Exceeding 45 mg.
3.Other Ingredients (Dosage Thresholds):
*Citrus Bioflavonoids: Exceeding 1,000 mg.
*Glutathione: Exceeding 250 mg.
*Phosphatidylserine: Daily intake exceeding 500 mg.
*Isoflavones: Daily intake exceeding 50 mg.
C. Ingredients Classified as Medications or Restricted Items in Taiwan
Regardless of the dosage, you must apply for a "Special Import Application for Personal Use Medication" or contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) at 02-27878000 before purchasing and shipping these items to Taiwan:
*Seal Oil
*Placenta
*Milk Thistle
*Alpha Lipoic Acid
*Glucosamine Sulfate
*Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
D. Inquiries and Special Import Applications
If the above explanations are unclear, members are responsible for contacting the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) for further clarification.
*Special Import Application: For instructions on applying for a "Special Import Application for Personal Use Medication," please click the provided link in the system.
*Restricted Raw Materials: Ingredients such as Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah are raw materials whose safety has not yet been confirmed by the FDA.
*Import Requirements for Restricted Materials: These may only be imported as "non-prescription drugs for personal use".
4.Non-Prescription Import Certificate:
*Applications can be made once every six months (per half-year period).
*The limit is 12 bottles per type.
*A special certificate is required if the total exceeds 36 bottles or if the total tablet/capsule count exceeds 1,200.
5.Regulated Categories: Products classified as medications, weight-loss supplements, or sexual enhancement aids require an FDA-issued personal use certificate.
6.Customs Warning: Taiwan Customs has recently increased inspection rates. If a package is inspected, you may be required to submit an import application for any product containing medicinal ingredients, regardless of the quantity.
7.Contact Information: For inquiries, please call the MOHW at 02-27878000.
E. Precautions Regarding Prohibited or Controlled Drugs (Legal Risks)
When shopping online from overseas, you must be extremely careful to check if products contain controlled substances or prohibited drug ingredients. Importing items containing these components into Taiwan via air mail or express delivery can lead to legal prosecution; please pay close attention to avoid breaking the law.
Common Prohibited or Controlled Drug Ingredients Include:
*Restricted Herbs: Cannabis, Yohimbine, and Horny Goat Weed.
*Sedatives and Hypnotics: Barbital, Zolpidem, Flunitrazepam, and Chlordiazepoxide.
*Addictive Narcotics: Cocaine, Heroin, Opium, Morphine, Fentanyl, Methadone, Opium poppy, and Pethidine.
*Other Controlled Substances: Tetrahydrocannabinols, Ephedrine, and Khat.
For a detailed list of controlled drugs across all levels, please visit the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website under the "Controlled Drugs Classification and Item Query" section.
