Chapter 4 Importation/Exportation and Quarantine
Article 32
The import, transit, or transshipment of quarantine objects shall be performed at the port or station specified by the import/export animal quarantine authority.
The quarantine objects mentioned in the preceding Paragraph, as well as those provided in Paragraph 5 of Article 33 are be quarantined by import/export animal quarantine authorities or authorized organizations (institutions) or groups. In addition, inspection shall be conducted at ports, stations, animal quarantine premises, and other places and areas specified by import export animal quarantine authorities.
For quarantine objects requiring to be quarantined at the places of origin before export, the animal health inspection authorities and owners or keepers of exported quarantine objects shall cooperate with import/export animal quarantine authorities to conduct inspections. The regulations for quarantine procedures, export registration or annulment, sanitary management, sampling and analysis examination, reporting of diseases, audits, animal health certificate issuance or annulment, and other related matters are prescribed by the central competent authority.
If it is necessary, the import/export animal quarantine authorities shall notify animal health inspection authorities to conduct a post-entry follow-up quarantine of imported quarantine objects. The regulations for inspection, breeding management, notification, reporting of diseases, period of post-entry follow-up quarantine and other related matters are prescribed by the central competent authority.
Article 32-1
If parts of quarantine objects after quarantine are deemed unqualified by the import/export animal quarantine authorities, the whole batch shall be assessed as unqualified objects. However, after the import/export animal quarantine authorities determine that the quarantine batches are not likely to spread infectious animal diseases or cross-contamination, the quarantine inspection results may be assessed individually.
The import/export animal quarantine authorities should notify the result of quarantine inspection to the importers, exporters or their agents.
Unqualified objects after quarantine inspection is not allowed to apply for re-inspection.
Article 33
To ensure the health of animals and humans, the central competent authority shall announce the overseas disease status of infectious animal diseases and implement the following quarantine measures for quarantine objects as deemed necessary:
1. Prohibition of import, transit, or transshipment;
2. Before importing quarantine objects, the importers or their agents shall apply for the issuance of import quarantine permits and apply for the quarantine inspection upon arrival;
3. Submit the animal quarantine certificate or other documents according to quarantine requirements for implementing inspection; and
4. Post-entry quarantine.
For quarantine objects that the quarantine requirements are not prescribed by the central competent authority, the importer shall apply for the issuance of individual quarantine requirements from the central competent authority before importation, and apply for quarantine inspection with the import/export animal quarantine authorities accordingly.
Regulations for prohibiting importation, transit or transshipment specified in Paragraph 1, application for import quarantine permits, quarantine requirements, submission of animal quarantine certificates or other documents for inspection, post-entry quarantine, application procedures specified in the preceding Paragraph, and other regulations of compliance are prescribed by the central competent authority.
In response to an international epidemic emergency, the central competent authority may announce quarantine diseases and quarantine measures related to quarantine objects.
Objects that have not been announced by the central competent authority as quarantine objects in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 5, but determined by the import/export animal quarantine authorities as potentially capable of spreading infectious animal diseases, may be forced to be quarantine. If the risk of transmission of infectious animal diseases is identified, the importation, transit, transshipment of the objects may be prohibited, or other necessary measures of the objects may be implemented.
Article 34
Importers or their agents of quarantine objects shall apply for quarantine prior to the arrival of such objects at ports or stations according to the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Article 32 and submit the animal quarantine certificate or other document granted by the inspection authorities of exporting countries in accordance with the requirements of Paragraph 3 of the preceding Article. However, if agreed upon by both the Republic of China and exporting countries, animal quarantine certificates may be issued electronically.
Passengers or serving personnel on the vehicles, vessels, or aircraft that carry quarantine objects shall, in accordance with the provisions specified in the preceding Paragraph, apply for animal quarantine inspection upon arrival.
Quarantine objects must not be imported through postal delivery. If quarantine objects are sent through postal delivery, they shall be returned, confiscated or destroyed. If an individual receives imported objects that are subject to quarantine by post, he/she shall promptly submit them to animal quarantine authorities for destruction.
Quarantine objects must remain intact until quarantine procedures are completed. Without approval from animal quarantine authorities, it is prohibited to tamper with packaging, moving, or engaging in any other activities that may spread infectious animal diseases.
Article 34-1
Importers or their agents of animals subject to post-entry quarantine shall apply for post-entry quarantine at animal quarantine premises or other places designated by the import/export animal quarantine authorities before importation/exportation.
Importers or their agents of animals subject to post-entry quarantine shall follow the instructions of animal quarantine officer to transfer the animals to animal quarantine premises or other designated places for post-entry quarantine within a specified period.
Upon quarantine, any individual with the exception of the import/export animal quarantine officer, cannot enter the animal quarantine premises or designated place without the permission of import/export animal quarantine authorities. During the post-entry quarantine period, the animal, related quarantine objects, and medicines should not be removed or brought in without the inspection and permission of the animal quarantine officer.
During the quarantine period, if the animal found to be infected or suspected of infected with infectious animal diseases, the import/export animal quarantine officer may take necessary measures according to the actual situation. If immediate action is necessary, the import/export animal quarantine officer may proceed accordingly and issue a certificate of disposal to the importer or their agents.
Article 34-2
If any of the following circumstances applies to imported quarantine objects, the import/export animal quarantine authorities may take necessary measures according to the circumstances:
1. Failure to submit the animal quarantine certificate or other documents in accordance with the requirements under Paragraph 3 of Article 33;
2. The information recorded in the animal quarantine certificate or other documents mentioned in the preceding Paragraph does not comply with the requirements under Paragraph 3 of Article 33; or
3. Other situations that do not comply with the requirements under Paragraph 3 of Article 33.
The necessary measures mentioned in the preceding Paragraph are as follows:
1. Implement safety measures for animal quarantine in accordance with international animal quarantine standards;
2. Extend the animal quarantine period, conduct diagnostic tests, vaccinations, or implement treatment measures;
3. Notify the importer or their agents to rectify necessary documents within a specified period; if rectification is not possible, the quarantine objects may be returned or culled; and
4. Return or cull quarantine objects.
Article 34-3
Quarantine objects which are in transit or for transshipment, the owners, the agents or keepers shall apply for quarantine to import/export animal quarantine authorities.
For quarantine objects that are not intended for importation but enter and are stored in free trade zones, the application procedures or required documents for quarantine may be simplified. The specific methods are prescribed by the central competent authority in consultation with the competent authority of the free trade zone.
Article 35
Before the quarantine objects are imported, transited, or re-exported for unloading, animal quarantine officer may conduct quarantine in vehicles, vessels, or aircraft when necessary. If quarantine objects are found to be infected or suspected of infected, or possibly infected or contaminated with infectious animal diseases, the animal quarantine officer may take necessary measures against the quarantine objects, vehicles, vessels, or aircraft. Car conductors, captains, pilots, managers, or their agents shall not evade, obstruct, or refuse the inspections.
When animals died or are suspected of dying from infectious animal diseases in the course of transportation, car conductors, captains, pilots, managers, or their agents, in charge of transportation shall report to animal quarantine officer and follow their instructions prior to arrival at ports or stations and unloading.
After taking measures in accordance with Article 25, owners, keepers, or captains shall record the details in the log book in preparation for animal quarantine officer’s inquiries upon arrival at harbors.
If importers or their agents fail to apply for quarantine inspections in accordance with Paragraph 1 of Article 34, the import/export animal quarantine authorities shall carry out disposal procedures in addition to imposing a penalty specified in Paragraph 11 of Article 43.
Article 36
If any of the following situations occur regarding the quarantine objects for exportation, the exporter or their agents shall apply for quarantine. The quarantine objects may be exported only after they are inspected and certified as qualified by import/export animal quarantine authorities, and an export animal quarantine certificate is issued:
1. According to Paragraph 2 of Article 5, the application for exported objects subject to quarantine and inspection by import/export animal quarantine authorities shall be submitted prior to export.
2. For objects other than those described in the preceding Subparagraph, the animal quarantine certificate of the Republic of China shall be attached upon request by the competent authority of the importing country.
Those who apply for export quarantine without the circumstances specified in the preceding Paragraph shall not be accepted by the import/export animal quarantine authorities.
If agreed upon by both the Republic of China and import countries, certificates mentioned in Paragraph 1 may be issued electronically.
Article 38
In the case of situations stated in Articles 12, 14, 15, 18 to 21, 26, and 27, and sampling matters specified in Subparagraph 1, Paragraph 1 of Article 12-2 during quarantine, the import/export animal quarantine authorities shall take necessary actions.
Article 38-1
Food and catering waste carried by vehicles, ships or aircraft from abroad is not allowed to leave the vehicle, ship or aircraft.If it leaves, it shall be transported and destroyed in a manner approved by the import/export animal quarantine authorities.
Article 38-2
The importers, owners, administrators, or their agents bear the cost of necessary measures stipulated in Paragraph 5 of Article 33, Paragraph 4 of Article 34-1, Paragraph 2 of Article 34-2, Paragraph 1 of Article 35, Paragraph 2 of Article 35, and Paragraph 4 of Article 35.
Article 38-3
For internet content involving the sale of objects from overseas to the Republic of China that are subject to quarantine, as well as importation or other quarantine-related matters, and those announced by the import/export animal quarantine authorities, their advertisers, platform providers, application service providers, or telecommunications businesses shall adopt the following measures based on the announcement of the import/export animal quarantine authorities:
1. Add necessary warnings for the awareness campaign of animal health inspection or quarantine;
2. Keep the personal information of the advertisers, seller, or purchaser or provide the information to the import/export animal quarantine authorities regularly; and
3. Restrict access and browsing of related web pages or remove them.
Article 39
Regulations regarding import and export, transit, transshipment of quarantine objects, application for quarantine, issuance of animal quarantine certificates, conveying of closed containers, and the carrying of passengers or personnel serving personnel on the vehicles, vessels, or aircraft and other related matters of compliance are prescribed by the central competent authority.