Don’t sell them online if you can’t finish your spoils from abroad! Nantou Health Bureau: The maximum fine is 3 million

With the popularity of online shopping and overseas purchasing, it is increasingly common for foreign food to be sold through social platforms, online stores and other channels. However, the Nantou Health Bureau reminds the public that illegal sales of uninspected imported food, or food that is not labeled in accordance with regulations, may violate the "Food Safety and Hygiene Management Act" and may result in a fine of up to NT$3 million.

The Nantou County Health Bureau stated that people often mistakenly believe that asking foreign relatives and friends to purchase food for them, or reselling uneaten food online after traveling abroad, is not a problem as long as the quantity is small. However, whether you bring food from abroad yourself, or import food for sale through mail, purchasing agents, or online, you should handle relevant inspections and labeling matters in accordance with regulations. Do not ignore regulatory requirements because the quantity sold is small or only available to a few consumers for purchase, otherwise you may violate the law.

The Health Bureau pointed out that some people asked friends who have lived in South Korea for a long time to buy rice cakes for infants and young children and send them back to Taiwan, and claimed to provide Korean food purchasing services on the Internet. After the public reported and verified the authenticity, they were fined in accordance with the "Food Safety and Hygiene Management Act"; others traveled to Japan and bought a variety of collagen tablets and other foods, and then returned to Taiwan. The remaining food was sold online, and they were also fined for violating the law.

The Health Bureau calls on the public to confirm relevant regulations on food importation, inspection, and Chinese labeling before engaging in foreign food purchasing or online sales, and not to violate the law due to temporary convenience. Relevant imported food inspection application procedures and regulations can be found on the website of the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. If the public has food hygiene and safety issues or consumption doubts, they can call the county health bureau service hotline 049-2231994.