Taiwan Unveils Common Supplementary Documents Required During the Customs Inspection of Imported Food Products

It is the responsibility of enterprises to cooperate and provide the necessary documents as requested by customs authorities during the import inspection process. Enterprises are strongly encouraged to proactively prepare the necessary documentation to facilitate efficient inspection and customs clearance procedures.

On May 20, 2024, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration issued a comprehensive list outlining the common supplementary documents required during the customs inspection of imported food products.

The details are as follows:

Items	Required supplementary documents
Food safety (food raw materials, extracts, food additive enzyme preparations, and flavorings)	For food raw materials and extracts Manufacturer's documentation specifying the source of the raw materials used in the product (including Latin names), the specific parts utilized, manufacturing and processing procedures (including extraction solvents), product specifications, ingredients, certificate of analysis (CoA), usage history, intended purpose, recommended dosage, and inspection reports, etc. For food additive enzyme preparations, and flavorings Manufacturer's documentation detailing the manufacturing and processing procedures, product specifications, and relevant international regulations and standards, etc.
Food labeling (product name, allergens, expiration date, ingredient and food additive content, nutritional information, differences between original text and Chinese labeling, etc. )	If the product name, allergens, expiration date, additive content, or nutrition ingredients on the food label do not match the declared information, manufacturer's documentation regarding the ingredient list or specific ingredient proportion, product's expiration date, food additive content, nutrition ingredients, and other corresponding documents should be provided to rectify any inconsistencies
Manufacturer name	Document certifying that the declared manufacturer name corresponds to the actual manufacturing facility
Other	Document providing information about overseas manufacturing facility or responsible manufacturer

It is crucial for enterprises to ensure that the raw materials, manufacturing processes, food additive usage, and labeling of imported food products comply with the relevant food regulations in Taiwan. In addition, it is the responsibility of enterprises to cooperate and provide the necessary documents as requested by customs authorities during the import inspection process. Enterprises are strongly encouraged to proactively prepare the necessary documentation to facilitate efficient inspection and customs clearance procedures.