Can controlled drugs be mailed to Taiwan? Schedules, import certificates and consents, carrying rules and penalties
Can controlled drugs be mailed to Taiwan?
No. TFDA press release, 2025-06-25: "Controlled drugs may not be sent by post or courier." If you buy medicines containing codeine, zolpidem, tramadol, ephedrine-type ingredients or sibutramine from sites such as Taobao and have them sent to Taiwan, the Customs Administration and its Keelung Customs state that Customs will refer any seized items not imported in accordance with the rules to judicial police authorities for investigation; the offense of transporting narcotics under Article 4 of Taiwan's Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act does not require "intent to sell." Individuals: controlled drugs you were prescribed abroad may only be carried in person, with a doctor's prescription (or certifying document), up to a 6-month supply. Businesses: Schedule 1 and 2 drugs can be imported only by TFDA's pharmaceutical factory, which applies for an import certificate; Schedule 3 and 4 drugs are imported by Western-medicine dealers or veterinary-drug dealers holding a controlled drug registration certificate, which, in addition to the drug permit, must apply for an import consent for each batch, at NT$1,000 per application.
This guide covers Taiwan's controlled drug schedules, mailing and carrying rules, the business import procedure and penalties. It does not provide medical advice; ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or switching any medication. HowBridge provides mainland China → Taiwan consolidated shipping (Shenzhen consolidation warehouse and Taoyuan Dayuan operations warehouse). It is not a customs broker and does not apply for controlled drug registration certificates, import certificates, import consents or carrying declarations on anyone's behalf. TFDA states that controlled drugs may not be mailed or couriered, so please do not send medicines containing controlled drug ingredients to the consolidation warehouse.
Can controlled drugs be mailed or couriered to Taiwan?
No. Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2025-06-25, original text: "To send ordinary medicines back to Taiwan, approval must be obtained from TFDA, and controlled drugs may not be sent by post or courier." The same applies to controlled drugs prescribed during medical treatment abroad: they may only be carried in person.
- The official English explanation says the same: TFDA's English FAQ states that "the government authority does not allow any controlled drugs to be sent via postal or courier services to Taiwan".
- Drugs from treatment abroad cannot be mailed either: on 2023-01-25 the Ministry of Health and Welfare reminded travelers that when bringing controlled drugs back to Taiwan for treatment, "the medicines must be carried in person and may not be sent by post, courier or similar means."
- Seizures by Customs are referred for investigation: on 2022-02-09 the Customs Administration noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic some people often imported medicines for personal use through express consignments and international parcels, and that a few cold, cough, pain and sleeping medicines contain codeine, dihydrocodeine, zolpidem, tramadol, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or methylephedrine, which are "narcotics listed by announcement under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act"; items not imported in accordance with the rules that are seized by Customs "are all referred to judicial police authorities for investigation." On 2022-12-06 Keelung Customs added the weight-loss drug ingredient sibutramine to that list.
- Transporting narcotics does not require intent to sell: the text of the transport offense in Article 4 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act has no "intent to sell" element; transporting Category 4 narcotics is punishable by imprisonment of not less than 5 years and not more than 12 years. Article 17, Paragraph 3: where a defendant commits the offense of transporting narcotics for their own use and the circumstances are minor, the sentence may be reduced. Whether importing by post or courier constitutes "transport" is decided by the court case by case.
HowBridge is not a customs broker, does not apply for any controlled drug permit documents on anyone's behalf, and cannot obtain an import certificate or consent for individuals. Check the ingredients before ordering from sites such as Taobao; please do not send medicines containing controlled drug ingredients to the consolidation warehouse. Even ordinary medicines mailed or couriered for personal use require prior approval from TFDA; see Drug and medical device import permits.
What are the four schedules of controlled drugs, and which schedule are common medicines in?
Article 3 of Taiwan's Controlled Drugs Act: controlled drugs are addictive narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs and other drugs deemed to require stricter control, restricted to medical and scientific use, and "managed in four schedules according to their degree of habituation, dependence, abuse and harm to society"; the schedules and items are reviewed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Controlled Drugs Review Committee and then submitted to the Executive Yuan (Taiwan) for approval and announcement. The examples below follow the original text of the "Classification and Items of Controlled Drugs" (up to the 2026-09-11 announcement):
1Schedule 1 controlled drugs
For example heroin, morphine and cocaine (listed in the controlled drug schedule under the English name "Cocaine"). Only TFDA's pharmaceutical factory may import them, with an import certificate.
2Schedule 2 controlled drugs
For example codeine and dihydrocodeine and their preparations containing 5.0 g or more per 100 mL (or 100 g), oxycodone (Oxycodone), cannabis, and tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs, item 155). Import rules are the same as for Schedule 1.
3Schedule 3 controlled drugs
For example codeine and dihydrocodeine preparations containing 1.0 g or more but less than 5.0 g per 100 mL (or 100 g), triazolam (Triazolam), flunitrazepam (Flunitrazepam, commonly known as FM2) and ketamine (Ketamine). Imported by registered Western-medicine dealers, which must apply for an import consent for each batch.
4Schedule 4 controlled drugs
For example zolpidem (Zolpidem), zopiclone, zaleplon, alprazolam, diazepam (Diazepam), midazolam, tramadol (Tramadol), phenobarbital (Phenobarbital), sibutramine (Sibutramine), and prescription oral solutions (including syrups) of codeine or dihydrocodeine containing less than 1.0 g per 100 mL. Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and methylephedrine are listed separately under "Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials," and that section's heading notes "excluding their preparations." Import procedure is the same as for Schedule 3.
Codeine and dihydrocodeine fall in Schedule 2, 3 or 4 depending on their content per 100 mL (or 100 g); phenobarbital is Schedule 4 (item 52), not Schedule 3; triazolam and flunitrazepam are benzodiazepines but are Schedule 3. "FM2" and "cannabinoids" are a common name and a collective term; neither name appears in the schedule.
Schedule 4 is the last of the four schedules, but it is still a controlled drug and equally may not be mailed or couriered; zolpidem, tramadol and sibutramine are also Category 4 narcotics in the narcotics classification.
Are controlled drug schedules the same as narcotic categories?
Not necessarily. They are two laws with two classification systems: Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act states that narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances needed for medical and scientific use "shall be separately governed by law," namely the Controlled Drugs Act. Controlled drug schedules are submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to the Executive Yuan for announcement; narcotic categories are reviewed by the Ministry of Justice (Taiwan) together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and then submitted to the Executive Yuan for announcement. Where common ingredients stand:
| Ingredient (common use) | Controlled drug schedule | Narcotic category | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codeine (cough, pain) | By content: Schedule 2 (item 33), Schedule 3 (item 16), Schedule 4 (item 16) | By content: Category 2, 3 or 4 (same item numbers as left) | Same level |
| Dihydrocodeine (cough) | By content: Schedule 2 (item 46), Schedule 3 (item 20), Schedule 4 (item 66) | By content: Category 2, 3 or 4 (same item numbers as left) | Same level |
| Zolpidem (sleep) | Schedule 4 (item 65) | Category 4 (Annex Table 4, item 65) | Same level |
| Flunitrazepam (sleep) | Schedule 3 (item 17) | Category 3 (Annex Table 3, item 17) | Same level |
| Phenobarbital (anti-epileptic, sedative) | Schedule 4 (item 52) | Category 4 (Annex Table 4, item 52) | Same level |
| Tramadol (pain) | Schedule 4 (item 70) | Category 4 (Annex Table 4, item 69) | Same level, different item number |
| Sibutramine (weight loss) | Schedule 4 (item 78) | Category 4 (Annex Table 4, item 76) | Same level, different item number |
| Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine (decongestant ingredients in cold medicines) | Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials (items 1, 7, 5); the heading notes "excluding their preparations" | "Narcotic precursor materials" under Category 4 narcotics (items 1, 7, 5); that section has no "excluding their preparations" wording | Worded differently |
| Etomidate (anesthetic; the ingredient in so-called "zombie vapes", a colloquial name — in Chinese 喪屍煙彈) | Schedule 4 (item 80) | Category 1 (Annex Table 1, item 10), from 2026-06-27 | Different |
| Xylazine (veterinary sedative) | Schedule 4 (item 81) | Category 2 (Annex Table 2, item 241), from 2026-02-24 | Different |
- Diversion to illicit use brings in narcotics law: Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2023-01-25, original text: sedative-hypnotics such as zolpidem, triazolam and flunitrazepam, and addictive narcotic drugs such as morphine, are all controlled drugs, and "if their source is unknown or they are diverted to illicit use, they constitute narcotics as defined in the 'Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act'."
- Ephedrine-type cold medicines: the two schedules are worded differently (see table above), and the Customs Administration lists cold and cough medicines containing these ingredients as "narcotics listed by announcement under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act." This guide does not itself judge whether any individual preparation is a narcotic; the determination of Customs and judicial authorities prevails.
Etomidate is a Schedule 4 controlled drug, but the Executive Yuan announced on 2026-06-25 that it is a Category 1 narcotic from 2026-06-27; xylazine is a Schedule 4 controlled drug, but the Executive Yuan announced on 2026-02-13 that it is a Category 2 narcotic from 2026-02-24. Seeing "Schedule 4 controlled drug" does not let you infer that it is also Category 4 in the narcotics classification.
What happens if controlled drugs are imported in violation of the rules?
The consequences are criminal penalties and administrative fines, with different subjects and elements: if the ingredient sent in is a narcotic listed by announcement, criminal liability under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act is involved; importing controlled drugs without following the procedure in the Controlled Drugs Act carries separate administrative fines, and the provisions name subjects such as "anyone other than the pharmaceutical factory" and "anyone not holding a registration certificate," not only businesses.
| Provision | Content | Key elements |
|---|---|---|
| Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, Article 4 | Transporting Category 1 narcotics is punishable by death or life imprisonment, and where life imprisonment is imposed, a fine of up to NT$30,000,000 may be added; Category 2: life imprisonment or imprisonment of not less than 10 years, with an optional fine of up to NT$15,000,000; Category 3: imprisonment of not less than 7 years, with an optional fine of up to NT$10,000,000; Category 4: imprisonment of not less than 5 years and not more than 12 years, with an optional fine of up to NT$5,000,000; attempts are also punishable | The provision has no "intent to sell" element; whether importing by post or courier constitutes "transport" is decided case by case |
| Same Act, Article 17, Paragraph 3 | Where a defendant commits the Article 4 offense of transporting narcotics for their own use and the circumstances are minor, the sentence may be reduced | "May" be reduced; the court decides case by case |
| Same Act, Articles 11 and 11-1 | Possessing Category 3 narcotics with a pure net weight of 5 g or more is punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years, with an optional fine of up to NT$200,000; possessing Category 4 narcotics with a pure net weight of 5 g or more is punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year, with an optional fine of up to NT$100,000; possessing or using Category 3 or 4 narcotics without justifiable reason is subject to an administrative fine of NT$10,000–50,000 and 4–8 hours of narcotics hazard education | Distinguished by "without justifiable reason" and the pure net weight threshold |
| Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (Taiwan), Articles 22 and 82 | Drugs imported without approval are prohibited drugs (except medicines for personal use carried in by travelers or crew of means of transport); importing prohibited drugs is punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years, with an optional fine of up to NT$100,000,000 | The provision has no "intent to sell" element; it also applies to drugs that are not narcotics |
| Controlled Drugs Act, Article 37, Subparagraph 1 | Anyone other than TFDA's pharmaceutical factory who imports Schedule 1 or 2 controlled drugs is subject to an administrative fine of NT$150,000–750,000 | Administrative penalty |
| Same Act, Article 38, Paragraph 1 | Importing in violation of Article 20 (Schedule 3 or 4 without obtaining a consent for each batch) is subject to an administrative fine of NT$150,000–750,000 | Administrative penalty |
| Same Act, Article 39, Paragraph 1 | Importing Schedule 3 or 4 controlled drugs without holding a controlled drug registration certificate is subject to an administrative fine of NT$60,000–300,000 | Administrative penalty |
| Same Act, Article 40, Paragraph 1 | Failing to appoint a controlled drug manager, failing to register changes, or lending or transferring the registration certificate to others, among other violations, is subject to an administrative fine of NT$30,000–150,000 | Administrative penalty |
| Same Act, Article 42 | For cases seized by Customs that violate import or export rules, in addition to handling under the Customs Anti-Smuggling Act, Customs notifies the health authority to handle them | Customs and health authorities handle them separately |
The provisions set out ranges of statutory penalties and fines. Whether a case is actually prosecuted, and how it is decided, depends on the facts and is determined by prosecutors and courts; court judgments were not checked in this guide, and no figures were found on how often individuals mailing medicines for personal use have been prosecuted or sentenced. Fines under the Controlled Drugs Act are administrative penalties; where an ingredient is also listed as a narcotic, criminal liability under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act applies in addition.
Sleeping pills and cold medicines made in mainland China: what does "522 MW0" mean?
The "import regulation" column of a tariff line often lists several codes at once, and every one of them must be satisfied. Based on data exported from the International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan) on 2026-10-17:
| CCC code (Taiwan's 11-digit tariff code) and description | Import regulation code | What the code means |
|---|---|---|
3004.90.99.46-9 Medicaments containing zolpidem | 522 MW0 | 522: importing controlled drugs requires a consent document issued by TFDA (import certificate or import consent); MW0: goods from mainland China may not be imported |
3004.90.10.30-3 Medicaments containing propofol, etomidate, etc. | 522 MW0 | Same as above |
3004.90.99.41-4 Medicaments containing tramadol | 522 | Importing controlled drugs requires a consent document |
3004.42.00.00-0 Other medicaments containing pseudoephedrine or its salts | 802 MW0 | 802: importing medicines for human use follows code 503 (copies of the pharmaceutical dealer license and drug permit, or a consent document from the Ministry of Health and Welfare); MW0 as above |
3004.41.00.00-1 Other medicaments containing ephedrine or its salts | 802 MW0 | Same as above |
- Scope of 522: 201 tariff lines currently carry import regulation code 522, of which 115 are in Chapter 29 and 79 in Chapter 30, and 10 also carry MW0. For 522, after Customs verifies and signs copy 2 of the consent document at clearance, the importer returns it to TFDA.
- The small-quantity exemption only waives the MW0 layer: under a 2022-08-19 announcement by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan), mainland Chinese industrial products in Chapters 25–97 that are not on the list of restricted import goods may be imported without a permit and without following the MXX rules if the CIF value is within NT$32,000 and each item is within 24 pieces; but the same announcement states that they "shall still comply with the 'Classification of Import and Export Commodities of the Republic of China' … and other relevant rules," so 522 and 802 must still be met.
- Inference from the provisions: individuals cannot obtain a 522 document: the import certificate or import consent required by 522 can only be applied for by the entities listed in Article 16 of the Controlled Drugs Act, such as pharmaceutical factories, Western-medicine manufacturers and Western-medicine dealers; individuals are not among them. Inferring from the combination of regulation codes, an individual buying online a medicine made in mainland China that contains a controlled ingredient cannot in practice obtain the consent document required by 522, even if the value is within the small-quantity exemption. The competent authority has issued no specific interpretation on this situation.
- Tariff lines do not necessarily reflect the control schedule: the tariff line for sibutramine as a raw material (
2921.49.00.50-4) lists only 503 and not 522, yet the Executive Yuan announced sibutramine as a Schedule 4 controlled drug on 2022-03-08. This guide found no official explanation of whether a line without 522 means no consent is needed, so it must not be taken to mean the procedure can be skipped.
The exemption only waives the International Trade Administration's import permit; it does not mean TFDA's controlled drug rules can be bypassed, and TFDA states that controlled drugs may not be mailed or couriered. To check a product's import regulations, use Tariff lookup and look at the import regulation column; for details on MW0, see International Trade Administration import permits for mainland Chinese goods.
Can I bring controlled drugs prescribed abroad back to Taiwan?
Yes, but only carried in person. Note 2 of the table of quantity limits on medicines for personal use carried by inbound travelers applies to all schedules, including Schedule 4:
| Item | Rule | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Conditions | A doctor's prescription from a medical institution (or a certifying document it issues) is required, and use is limited to treating the traveler's own illness | Note 2 of the inbound traveler quantity limit table (version in force from 2026-02-01) |
| Quantity | No more than the amount on the prescription (or certifying document), and no more than a 6-month supply | Same as above; TFDA press release, 2025-06-25 |
| Method | The medicines must be carried in person and may not be sent by post, courier or similar means | Ministry of Health and Welfare press release, 2023-01-25 |
| Declaration (Schedules 1 to 3) | You may submit the declaration together with a doctor's diagnosis certificate stating the illness, the course of treatment and the reasons controlled drugs must be used, as a filing with TFDA for the record; this applies to both leaving and entering Taiwan | Enforcement Rules of the Controlled Drugs Act, Article 18 |
| Schedule 4 | Not covered by the declaration; the prescription, own-use and 6-month limits above still apply | TFDA declaration guidance; Note 2 of the quantity limit table |
| Customs clearance | TFDA recommends carrying the doctor's prescription (or diagnosis certificate) and the medicine bags for Customs inspection; if in doubt about whether you may use the green channel, you should use the red channel | TFDA declaration guidance; Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Inspection, Taxation and Release of Inbound Passengers' Baggage |
- Official name of the declaration: "Declaration for Patients Carrying Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 Controlled Drugs into/out of the Republic of China" (the patient declaration for carrying controlled drugs). Attach the declaration, a doctor's diagnosis certificate and a copy of your passport (copies of the medicine bag, label or package insert are recommended), and send them to the TFDA at: Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 109, Ln. 130, Sec. 1, Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei City 115021, Taiwan (R.O.C.). Guidance page: TFDA declaration guidance.
- Cost and time: free; TFDA states that "processing after receipt takes about 7 working days." TFDA's processing time limit table announced on 2018-01-12 lists 14 days (calendar days) for the "application for consent for patients carrying Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 controlled drugs into or out of the Republic of China."
- No explicit rule found that you "must declare on entry": Article 7, Paragraph 2 of the Regulations Governing the Inspection, Taxation and Release of Inbound Passengers' Baggage requires travelers carrying "baggage items subject to import control or restriction" to fill in a declaration form and use the red channel, but this guide found no explicit provision on whether controlled drugs for personal use within the limits fall under that category.
- Do not buy medicines containing controlled ingredients abroad to bring back: TFDA reminded travelers on 2025-06-25 that they "should avoid buying and carrying back to Taiwan medicines containing ingredients controlled as controlled drugs in Taiwan." For quantity limits on other medicines for personal use, see Inbound traveler allowances.
For ordinary prescription medicines, the quantity limit table states that "those not carrying a doctor's prescription (or certifying document) are limited to a two-month supply"; but Note 2 sets a separate rule for controlled drugs: they "require a doctor's prescription from a medical institution (or a certifying document it issues)." So controlled drugs always require a prescription or certifying document.
Who can legally import controlled drugs? Can individuals apply?
Individuals cannot. Article 16 of the Controlled Drugs Act lists the institutions and businesses that may import; ordinary individuals are not among them:
| Schedule | Businesses that may import | Document to apply for | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedules 1 and 2 | Only TFDA's pharmaceutical factory (contracted pharmaceutical firms may only manufacture, not import) | Import certificate: five copies per set, single use, valid for no more than 6 months from the date of issue | Act, Articles 4, 16 and 19; Enforcement Rules, Article 8 |
| Schedule 3 and 4 finished products | Western-medicine dealers, veterinary-drug dealers | Drug permit (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Article 39) + an import consent applied for per batch: four copies per set, single use, valid for no more than 3 months from the date of issue | Act, Articles 16 and 20; Enforcement Rules, Article 12 |
| Controlled drug raw materials | Western-medicine manufacturers, veterinary-drug manufacturers | Import consent per batch for Schedules 3 and 4; a filing fee of NT$5,000 applies in addition for raw materials for own use or for trial-production drugs | Act, Articles 16 and 20; Fee Standards for Western Medicine Registration Review, Article 4 |
| Ordinary individuals | Not among the entities listed in Article 16 | Cannot apply; may only carry in person with a prescription under the inbound quantity limit table | Act, Article 16; Note 2 of the quantity limit table |
- Get a registration certificate first: the businesses above must apply to TFDA for approved registration and obtain a controlled drug registration certificate, which may not be lent or transferred to others (Act, Article 16, Paragraphs 2 and 4). The certificate records the institution's name, address, type of business, responsible person and manager, among other items; there is no "import" category. Importing Schedule 3 or 4 drugs without a registration certificate may be subject to an administrative fine of NT$60,000–300,000.
- Appoint a manager: Western-medicine dealers and manufacturers must appoint a controlled drug manager, who must be one of their pharmacists; for Western-medicine dealers whose purchased or sold controlled drugs do not include narcotic drugs, the role may be filled by an assistant pharmacist (Act, Article 14; Enforcement Rules, Article 7).
- When registration is refused: if the responsible person or manager has violated the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act and has been indicted by a prosecutor or found guilty by a court (except where an acquittal has become final), the registration certificate will not be approved (Regulations Governing the Issuance and Management of Controlled Drug Use Licenses and Registration Certificates, Article 11).
How do you apply for an import consent for Schedule 3 and 4 controlled drugs?
Article 20 of the Controlled Drugs Act: to import Schedule 3 or 4 controlled drugs, in addition to obtaining a permit under Article 39 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, one "shall apply to the Food and Drug Administration for the issuance of a consent for each batch," except where permitted by the central health authority for special needs. The steps follow TFDA's application procedure (2022-09 version) and the Enforcement Rules:
1Obtain a registration certificate and appoint a manager
Apply for the controlled drug registration certificate by post on paper, or on TFDA's online application platform; the fee is NT$1,000 and the announced processing time limit is 14 days.
2Confirm the drug permit
The drug to be imported must already hold a drug permit; if the applicant is not the permit holder, a letter of authorization must be attached.
3Fill in the application and attach documents
The importer fills in the import application (online), attaching a copy of the permit (not needed if already filed with TFDA for the record) and the controlled drug receipt, disbursement and balance status for the month before the application date (not needed if already reported as required).
4Pay the fee and wait for issuance
NT$1,000 per application; a filing fee of NT$5,000 applies in addition for raw materials for own use or for trial-production drugs. The announced processing time limit is 21 days (calendar days).
5Clear customs and return copy 2
Copy 1 is forwarded to the foreign exporter; when filing the customs declaration, enter the consent number on the import declaration and clear customs with copies 2 and 3; after Customs verifies and signs copy 2, return it to TFDA within 15 days. The consent is single use and valid within 3 months, and the quantity actually imported may not exceed the approved quantity.
The application guidance only says "the importer (online) fills in the import application," and the consent item in the license application section is not marked "available online"; please confirm the filing channel with TFDA's Division of Controlled Drugs. The Controlled Drug Management Information System (CDMIS) uses e-Government account login and is confirmed to be used for receipt, disbursement and balance reporting, controlled drug file lookup and license application status lookup.
The claim often seen online that "consent review takes about 7 working days" has no source that we could find; 7 working days is the guidance for the patient carrying declaration. The announced processing time limit for both the consent and the import certificate is 21 days.
How much are controlled drug fees, and how long does it take?
Fees are fixed by law under Article 3 of the Fee Standards for Review of Controlled Drug Licenses and Import, Export and Manufacturing Consents; processing time limits follow TFDA's processing time limit table for applications announced on 2018-01-12 (calendar days):
| Item | Fee | Announced processing time limit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuance, change, replacement or renewal of a controlled drug registration certificate | NT$1,000 per application | New application: 14 days | Fee Standards, Article 3, Subparagraph 1 |
| Controlled drug use license (medical institutions, etc.) | NT$500 per application | Not checked in this guide | Same Article, Subparagraph 2 |
| Schedule 3 and 4 import consent | NT$1,000 per application | 21 days | Same Article, Subparagraph 3 |
| Verification of a consent or written inquiry | NT$500 per application | Not checked in this guide | Same Article, Subparagraph 4 |
| Filing for import of raw materials for own use or for trial-production drugs | Additional NT$5,000 | — | Fee Standards for Western Medicine Registration Review, Article 4, Subparagraph 2 |
| Schedule 1 and 2 import certificate | No such fee item in the Fee Standards | 21 days | Fee Standards, Article 2; processing time limit table |
| Patient carrying declaration | Free | 14 days (listed in the processing time limit table as a "consent application"; TFDA guidance says about 7 working days) | TFDA declaration guidance; processing time limit table |
The "Fee Standards for Western Medicine and Medical Device Registration Review" cited in TFDA's application guidance has been repealed; the current one is the "Fee Standards for Western Medicine Registration Review." The CDMIS notice board still carries an old notice raising the fee to NT$3,000 from 2015-07-01; the current amount is NT$5,000.
How can I check whether my medicine contains a controlled ingredient?
Before ordering or traveling, look up the English name of each ingredient, then check in this order:
1Check the ingredients on the box or leaflet
Look for words such as Codeine, Dihydrocodeine, Zolpidem, Tramadol, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Methylephedrine and Sibutramine; these are the ingredients named by the Customs Administration and Keelung Customs.
2Compare with the controlled drug schedule
Match the English name against the "Classification and Items of Controlled Drugs" announced by the Executive Yuan; for codeine and dihydrocodeine, check the content.
3Search the Western medicine permit database
TFDA recommends using the Western medicine permit search system to confirm whether a product is a Schedule 1 to 3 controlled drug.
4Check the tariff import regulations
Use HowBridge Tariff lookup to see whether the import regulation column of the tariff line shows 522, 802 or MW0; tariff lines do not necessarily reflect the control schedule, and the schedule itself is what ultimately counts.
Controlled drug services section: fda.gov.tw sid=41; Controlled Drug Management Information System: cdmis.fda.gov.tw; online application platform: oap.fda.gov.tw.
Which controlled drugs were added in September 2026?
Short answer: under Executive Yuan announcement Yuan-Tai-Wei-Zi No. 1151023362 of 2026-09-11, two items were added as Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials from 2026-09-15: Ethyl N-formyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)glycinate and Etomidate acid. Since then, importing either item follows Article 16 (who may import, registration certificate) and Article 20 (per-batch consent for Schedules 3 and 4) of the Controlled Drugs Act.
| Item (as announced) | Schedule | Effective date | What it means for import |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethyl N-formyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)glycinate | Schedule 4 controlled drug raw material | 2026-09-15 | Controlled drug raw materials are imported by Western-medicine manufacturers or veterinary-drug manufacturers holding a controlled drug registration certificate (Article 16(1)(iii) and 16(2)); Schedule 4 also requires an import consent from TFDA for each batch (Article 20) |
| Etomidate acid | Schedule 4 controlled drug raw material | 2026-09-15 | Same as above: registration certificate + per-batch import consent (Articles 16 and 20) |
- Draft notice of 2026-07-30: the Ministry of Health and Welfare published the draft (Wei-Shou-Shi-Zi No. 1151800329) with a comment period of only 5 days; the notice explained that the Executive Yuan had already listed these items as narcotics, and the period was shortened to avoid a gap in control timing affecting scientific needs.
- Announced 2026-09-11, effective 2026-09-15: TFDA issued a news release the same day; the Classification and Items of Controlled Drugs cited on this page already includes this announcement.
- Who may import: the importers listed in Article 16(1) are institutions and businesses such as the pharmaceutical factory and Western-medicine (veterinary-drug) manufacturers or dealers, and they must hold a controlled drug registration certificate; the article does not list individuals.
- Tariff code and import regulation code: the announcement does not state which CCC code these two items fall under or whether that code carries 522; we did not find a corresponding notice from the Trade Administration. Before declaring, rely on the Trade Administration's code lookup and a reply from TFDA's Controlled Drugs Division.
This part does not describe the uses, effects or sources of these two substances. According to the TFDA draft notice, both had already been listed as narcotics by the Executive Yuan; for how the controlled drug and narcotic schedules differ, see the narcotics section of this page.
What changed in the schedules in 2025–2026?
Announcements over roughly the past year related to controlled drug and narcotic classifications (by effective date; based on a scan of the Executive Yuan Gazette for 2025-10 to 2026-10, not guaranteed to be exhaustive):
- 2025-10-31: the narcotics classification added nitazenes such as Etazene as Category 2 narcotics, and 4-Methylpentanophenone and others as Category 4 narcotic precursor materials.
- 2025-12-08: the controlled drug classification added 8 items including Etazene as Schedule 2 controlled drugs, and 3 items as Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials.
- 2026-02-01: the amended table of quantity limits on medicines for personal use carried by inbound travelers took effect; the current text of Note 2 on controlled drugs is given in this guide, but we did not obtain an old-versus-new comparison to confirm whether it changed.
- 2026-02-24: xylazine was raised to a Category 2 narcotic; 7-Hydroxymitragynine and N-Ethylpentedrone were listed as Category 3 narcotics.
- 2026-03-04 (promulgation date): amendments to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act were promulgated (provisions on the supply of essential medicines).
- 2026-03-19: 7-Hydroxymitragynine and N-Ethylpentedrone were listed as Schedule 3 controlled drugs; 2-Mercapto Etomidate was listed as a Schedule 4 controlled drug raw material.
- 2026-05-08: 3 items including Carboetomidate were listed as Category 2 narcotics.
- 2026-06-26: 3 items including Carboetomidate were listed as Schedule 2 controlled drugs.
- 2026-06-27: 9 items including etomidate were raised to Category 1 narcotics; in the controlled drug classification, etomidate remains Schedule 4, item 80.
- 2026-09-15: 2 items including Etomidate acid were listed as Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials.
What does research say about controlled ingredients in medicines bought online?
The studies below provide background; none of them were conducted on HowBridge, and they can only illustrate general principles:
- The biggest risk of buying prescription drugs online is that no one checks the dose: Cicero and Ellis (2012, Journal of Medical Internet Research) compared people in the United States who obtained tramadol by prescription with those who bought it from no-prescription online pharmacies, and found that the online buyers had significantly more and more severe adverse events: 7% (7/96) reported seizures, while none of those with prescriptions did. The authors attribute this to the lack of a doctor's oversight of dose, contraindications and concomitant medications. The study sample was recruited online in the United States, so it can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy: it shows the risk of "skipping the prescription" itself and cannot be converted directly into rates for Taiwan.
- Over-the-counter medicines abroad may already contain controlled ingredients: Cooper (2013, Journal of Substance Use) reviewed international literature from 1990–2011 and found that the main abused non-prescription medicines fall into five groups, including codeine-containing products (especially compound analgesics), cough medicines, sedating antihistamines, decongestants and laxatives. UNODC's "World Drug Report 2025" also notes that in 2023 codeine accounted for nearly two-thirds of global seizures of pharmaceutical opioids. Both are international data and can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy; countries classify the same ingredient differently as prescription or over-the-counter, so "over-the-counter abroad" does not mean it can be freely imported into Taiwan.
- Ephedrine-type cold medicines are controlled because they can be used to make illicit drugs: Yu, Wang and Cheng (2018, Journal of Food and Drug Analysis) note that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine raw materials are listed in Taiwan as Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials, while cold medicines made from them are regulated under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act; the authors believe this gap led illegal operators to buy up cold medicines in bulk to extract them for drug manufacturing. Cunningham and Liu (2003, Addiction) found in the United States that after these precursor materials were regulated, methamphetamine-related hospital admissions fell markedly. The former describes Taiwan's regulations as of 2018; the latter studied three US states and can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy. Both only explain the reasons for and effects of control; the current schedules announced by the Executive Yuan prevail.
- Ordering narcotics from abroad into Taiwan may be treated as transporting narcotics: Ying-Ye Yang (2023, master's thesis, Graduate Institute of Interdisciplinary Legal Studies, National Taiwan University) reviewed actual cases and notes that the offense of transporting narcotics is listed alongside manufacturing and selling in Article 4 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, and that "even an individual who simply carries, orders or smuggles narcotics into the country in order to use them" also constitutes this serious offense. Décary-Hétu et al. (2016, International Journal of Drug Policy) analyzed dark-web vendors and found that whether they ship internationally is related to factors such as parcel weight and each country's law enforcement effectiveness. The former is a legal thesis, and individual cases are still decided by the courts; the latter studied dark-web vendors and can only illustrate cross-border mailing patterns by analogy.
- Controlled drugs in Taiwan's legal supply chain are also inspected at every level: Chang et al. (2013, Journal of Food and Drug Analysis) compiled inspection results for 2002–2011: health authorities conducted 159,494 inspections with a non-compliance rate of 1.41%, and the authors note that both diversion and abuse are major problems in Taiwan. 郭戎晉 and 李姿瑩 (2016, law journal 世新法學) note that in Taiwan only legally registered pharmacists may lawfully sell medicines, and that online drug sales remain uncertain. The former covers legal pharmaceutical firms and medical institutions, with data ending in 2011; the latter is a 2016 legal study that can only explain the design of the system. For the latest rules, see TFDA announcements.
- Taiwan's schedule-based control has its own history: Li (2012, Journal of Food and Drug Analysis) reviewed Taiwan's controlled drug legislation and notes that two decades of prevention experience since the methamphetamine epidemic have brought Taiwan's controlled drug laws broadly in line with the spirit of the three UN drug control conventions and established a substance abuse monitoring and prevention system; the author recommends making the scheduling system more specialized and strengthening inspections. This is a review of the system written some time ago, and later reorganizations of government agencies fall outside its scope.
What are common controlled drug terms?
- Controlled drugs
- Under Article 3 of Taiwan's Controlled Drugs Act, addictive narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs and other drugs deemed to require stricter control, restricted to medical and scientific use and managed in four schedules.
- Narcotics
- Under Article 2 of Taiwan's Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their products that are addictive, liable to abuse and harmful to society; the categories are announced by the Executive Yuan and form a separate system from the controlled drug schedules.
- Import certificate
- The document TFDA's pharmaceutical factory applies for when importing Schedule 1 or 2 controlled drugs; five copies per set, single use, valid for no more than 6 months from the date of issue.
- Import consent (permit)
- The document applied for from TFDA for each batch of Schedule 3 or 4 controlled drugs imported; four copies per set, single use, valid for no more than 3 months from the date of issue, with a fee of NT$1,000 per application.
- Controlled drug registration certificate
- Obtained by institutions or businesses that may handle controlled drugs after TFDA approves their registration; it records the type of business, responsible person, manager and other items, and may not be lent or transferred to others.
- Controlled drug manager
- Must be appointed by institutions and businesses that use or deal in controlled drugs; for Western-medicine dealers and manufacturers the role is filled by one of their pharmacists, and for dealers not handling narcotic drugs it may be filled by an assistant pharmacist.
- Import regulation code 522
- A code on International Trade Administration tariff lines meaning that importing controlled drugs requires an import certificate or import consent issued by TFDA; it is often called a "review and approval code," but the official column name is "import regulation code."
- Declaration for carrying controlled drugs
- The document a patient files with TFDA for the record, together with a doctor's diagnosis certificate, when carrying Schedule 1 to 3 controlled drugs in person into or out of Taiwan to treat their own illness; free of charge.
- Narcotic precursor materials
- Raw materials listed alongside Category 4 narcotics in Annex Table 4 of the narcotics classification, such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and methylephedrine.
- MW0
- An import regulation code meaning goods from mainland China may not be imported; mainland Chinese industrial products in Chapters 25–97 that are not on the list of restricted import goods have a separate small-quantity permit exemption, but it only waives this layer.
What are the sources and the scope of verification?
The sources below were consulted on 2026-10-17; document dates and access dates are shown separately, and no date has been invented where none is stated.
Official and government primary sources
- Controlled Drugs Act (Taiwan) (Presidential Order; competent authority: Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2017-06-14; definition of controlled drugs and the four schedules (Article 3), Schedules 1 and 2 imported by TFDA's pharmaceutical factory (Articles 4 and 19, import certificate), importing entities and registration certificate (Article 16), per-batch consent for Schedules 3 and 4 (Article 20), penalties in Articles 37–40 (from NT$150,000 / NT$60,000 / NT$30,000), handling of Customs seizures (Article 42)
- Enforcement Rules of the Controlled Drugs Act (Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2018-04-24; manager qualifications (Article 7), import certificate in five copies, 6 months (Article 8), consent in four copies, 3 months, single use (Article 12), documents required for a consent (Article 13), patient declaration for carrying Schedule 1 to 3 drugs filed for the record (Article 18)
- Regulations Governing the Issuance and Management of Controlled Drug Use Licenses and Registration Certificates (Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2013-11-08; documents required for a registration certificate (Article 10), grounds for refusal (Article 11), registered items including type of business (Article 12)
- Fee Standards for Review of Controlled Drug Licenses and Import, Export and Manufacturing Consents (Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2014-06-17; registration certificate NT$1,000 per application, use license NT$500, Schedule 3 and 4 consent NT$1,000 per application, verification or inquiry NT$500 (Article 3); no fee item for the Schedule 1 and 2 import certificate
- Fee Standards for Western Medicine Registration Review (Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2020-07-21; filing for import of raw materials for own use or for trial-production drugs, NT$5,000 (Article 4, Subparagraph 2)
- Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (Taiwan) (Presidential Order; competent authority: Ministry of Justice) | Document date: 2022-05-04; definition of narcotics and the four categories, medical use governed separately by law (Article 2), transport offense does not require intent to sell (Article 4), possession with intent to sell (Article 5), pure net weight thresholds for possession (Article 11), administrative fines for possessing Category 3 and 4 narcotics (Article 11-1), sentence may be reduced for minor transport for own use (Article 17, Paragraph 3)
- Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (Taiwan) (Presidential Order; competent authority: Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2026-03-04; definition of prohibited drugs including unapproved imports (Article 22), drug permits (Article 39), criminal liability for importing prohibited drugs (Article 82)
- Regulations Governing the Inspection, Taxation and Release of Inbound Passengers' Baggage (Article 7; quantity limit table annexed to Article 4) (Ministry of Finance) | Document date: 2026-01-30; Note 2 of the quantity limit table: controlled drugs require a prescription, are limited to the traveler's own illness and to a 6-month supply; Article 7 on declaring at the red channel and using the red channel when in doubt
- Classification and Items of Controlled Drugs (annex to the Controlled Drugs Act, up to the Executive Yuan's 2026-09-11 announcement) | Document date: 2026-09-11; codeine and dihydrocodeine in Schedules 2, 3 and 4 by content; zolpidem, tramadol, phenobarbital, sibutramine, etomidate and xylazine in Schedule 4; triazolam and flunitrazepam in Schedule 3; ephedrine-type substances as Schedule 4 raw materials, excluding their preparations
- Classification and Items of Narcotics (Annex Tables 1 to 4 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act) | Document date: 2026-06-26; narcotic category of each ingredient in Annex Tables 1–4; etomidate Category 1, xylazine Category 2; ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and methylephedrine as Category 4 narcotic precursor materials (Annex Tables 1 to 3: FileId 0000318787–0000318789)
- Executive Yuan announcement of 2026-06-25, Yuan-Tai-Fa-Zi No. 1155013102 (9 items including etomidate reclassified as Category 1 narcotics) | Document date: 2026-06-25; etomidate-type substances are Category 1 narcotics from 2026-06-27, unlike their Schedule 4 controlled drug status
- Executive Yuan announcement of 2026-02-13, Yuan-Tai-Fa-Zi No. 1151002189 (xylazine reclassified as a Category 2 narcotic) | Document date: 2026-02-13; xylazine is a Category 2 narcotic from 2026-02-24 (still Schedule 4 as a controlled drug); classification amendments over the past year
- Executive Yuan announcement of 2026-09-11, Yuan-Tai-Wei-Zi No. 1151023362 (amendment to the Classification and Items of Controlled Drugs) | Document date: 2026-09-11; the latest controlled drug classification announcement (effective 2026-09-15); three others in the same period dated 2025-12-04, 2026-03-17 and 2026-06-24
- [13] Guidance on the "Declaration for Patients Carrying Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 Controlled Drugs into/out of the Republic of China" (TFDA Division of Controlled Drugs) | Document date: 2026-05-20; official name of the declaration, limited to Schedules 1 to 3, filed for the record, free, about 7 working days, diagnosis certificate and passport copy required
- I need to carry Controlled Drugs for my disease through the Customs of Taiwan (TFDA English FAQ) | Document date: 2026-05-20; official English: no controlled drugs may be sent to Taiwan by post or courier
- Food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics carried on entry are for personal use only; reselling after returning to Taiwan may break the law (TFDA press release) | Document date: 2025-06-25; controlled drugs require a prescription, up to a 6-month supply, avoid buying medicines containing ingredients controlled in Taiwan to bring back; controlled drugs may not be mailed or couriered
- Application procedure for Schedule 3 and 4 controlled drug import and export consents (TFDA, 2022-09 version) | Document date: 2022-09-15; applicant eligibility, required documents, process, 3-month validity, consent number entered on the declaration, fee of NT$1,000 and NT$5,000 for raw materials for own use
- [01] Guidance on new applications for a controlled drug registration certificate (TFDA) | Document date: 2026-09-09; registered items, fee of NT$1,000, online application at oap.fda.gov.tw
- FDA processing time limit table for applications (annex to FDA Yao-Zi No. 1061411895 announcement of 2018-01-12) | Document date: 2018-01-12; registration certificate 14 days, patient carrying declaration 14 days, import certificate 21 days, import consent 21 days (calendar days)
- Controlled Drug Management Information System (CDMIS) / controlled drug services section (TFDA) | Document date: 2026-10-17; official system name, e-Government account login, receipt/disbursement/balance reporting and license status lookup; services section URL https://www.fda.gov.tw/TC/site.aspx?sid=41
- Carrying controlled drugs into or out of Taiwan: what to watch out for (Ministry of Health and Welfare) | Document date: 2023-01-25; controlled drugs from treatment abroad must be carried in person and may not be mailed or couriered; zolpidem, triazolam, flunitrazepam and others are controlled drugs, and diversion to illicit use brings in narcotics law
- Check the ingredients of medicines imported for personal use to avoid breaking the law inadvertently (Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance) | Document date: 2022-02-09; medicines imported by express or parcel containing codeine, zolpidem, tramadol, ephedrine-type and other ingredients: items seized by Customs are all referred to judicial police authorities for investigation
- Keelung Customs reminds the public to check the ingredients and rules for medicines imported for personal use to avoid breaking the law (Ministry of Finance) | Document date: 2022-12-06; the weight-loss drug ingredient sibutramine is also on the list for referral for investigation
- Import regulation codes (IReg): 522, 802, 503, MW0 (International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs) | Document date: 2026-10-17; 522 original text: consent document (import certificate or import consent), copy 2 returned; currently 201 tariff lines; MW0: goods from mainland China may not be imported
- Severe penalties for high-risk narcotics crimes: "etomidate"-type substances raised to Category 1 narcotics (Ministry of Justice press release) | Document date: 2026-06-17; review process of the Narcotics Review Committee; can be read together with the Executive Yuan announcement of 2026-06-25 (etomidate and related substances reclassified as Category 1 narcotics)
- Rules exempting small quantities of mainland Chinese goods from import permits (Ministry of Economic Affairs announcement Jing-Mao-Zi No. 11104603570) | Document date: 2022-08-19; mainland Chinese industrial products in Chapters 25–97 not on the list of restricted import goods, within CIF NT$32,000 and 24 pieces per item, are exempt from permits and from the MXX rules; other import regulations still apply
- Executive Yuan announcement of 2025-10-29, Yuan-Tai-Fa-Zi No. 1141030113 (amendment to the Classification and Items of Narcotics) | Document date: 2025-10-29; from 2025-10-31, nitazenes such as Etazene added as Category 2 narcotics, and 4-Methylpentanophenone and others as Category 4 narcotic precursor materials
- Executive Yuan announcement of 2026-05-06, Yuan-Tai-Fa-Zi No. 1151011170 (amendment to the Classification and Items of Narcotics) | Document date: 2026-05-06; from 2026-05-08, 3 items including Carboetomidate are Category 2 narcotics (later raised to Category 1 on 2026-06-27)
- Amendment of controlled drug items (adding Ethyl N-formyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)glycinate and one other item) (TFDA news) | Document date: 2026-09-11 (accessed 2026-10-23); Executive Yuan announcement Yuan-Tai-Wei-Zi No. 1151023362, effective 2026-09-15, both items listed as Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials
- Draft amendment to the Classification and Items of Controlled Drugs (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Wei-Shou-Shi-Zi No. 1151800329) | Document date: 2026-07-30 (accessed 2026-10-23); 5-day comment period; states that the Executive Yuan had already listed these items as narcotics
Research literature
Evolution of the legislative and administrative system of controlled drugs in Taiwan
The abstract reviews Taiwan's history of addictive substance abuse and its controlled drug legislation, noting that two decades of prevention experience since the methamphetamine epidemic have brought Taiwan's controlled drug laws broadly in line with the spirit of the three UN drug control conventions and established a substance abuse monitoring and prevention system; the author recommends making the scheduling system more specialized, strengthening inspections, and adding early monitoring, education and treatment alongside supply-side enforcement. Useful for explaining the origins of Taiwan's schedule-based control of controlled drugs.
Status of management of controlled drugs in Taiwan: Inspection during 2002–2011
From 2002–2011, health authorities conducted 159,494 controlled drug inspections and found 2,254 violations, a non-compliance rate of 1.41%, mostly false entries in record books; by the end of 2011 most controlled drug use licenses had been issued to physicians (39,329). The authors note that inappropriate prescribing is attracting growing attention and that both diversion and abuse are major problems in Taiwan. Inspections covered legal pharmaceutical firms, medical institutions and pharmacies, not online purchases.
Regulatory analysis on the medical use of ephedrine-related products in Taiwan
Raw materials containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or methylephedrine are listed as Schedule 4 controlled drug raw materials under the Controlled Drugs Act, but once made into cold, cough or allergy medicines they are regulated under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act as prescription or over-the-counter drugs; the authors believe this gap led illegal operators to buy up cold medicines in bulk to extract them for drug manufacturing. The article cites a news report that 60 mg of ephedrine can be extracted from a single cold tablet. It concludes that health, police and judicial authorities must work together. It describes the regulatory situation as of 2018.
網路藥局法制之比較研究
The abstract notes that buying medicines online is convenient and cheap but carries risks such as being unable to verify the seller's professional qualifications, not receiving correct medication information, and the circulation of counterfeit drugs; the biggest difference among countries' online pharmacy laws is whether prescription drugs may be sold online. The English abstract states that in Taiwan only legally registered pharmacists may lawfully sell medicines, and that the authorities reject the possibility of providing full professional consultation online. A 2016 comparative legal study.
運輸毒品罪之研究
The abstract notes that transporting narcotics is listed alongside manufacturing and selling in Article 4 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, and that among cases under Article 4 over the past 10 years, the transport offense accounts for 5% or less of defendants; transporters usually take part only in the carrying stage, and "even an individual who simply carries, orders or smuggles narcotics into the country in order to use them" violates the transport offense, which carries heavy penalties. A legal thesis; individual cases are still decided by the courts.
Over-the-counter medicine abuse – a review of the literature
A review of international literature from 1990–2011 finding that non-prescription medicine abuse occurs in many countries, mainly in five groups: codeine-containing products (especially compound analgesics), cough medicines (especially dextromethorphan), sedating antihistamines, decongestants and laxatives; harms include opioid addiction and gastric bleeding caused by ibuprofen. Prescription classifications differ between countries, so it can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy.
Health Outcomes in Patients Using No-Prescription Online Pharmacies to Purchase Prescription Drugs
Compared users who obtained tramadol by prescription (349 people) with those who bought it from no-prescription online pharmacies (96 people): 55% (41/75) of online buyers did so because they could not get a sufficient dose; online buyers had significantly more and more severe adverse events (P<.01), and 7% (7/96) reported seizures, while none of those with prescriptions did. The study sample was an online sample in the United States, so it can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy.
Going international? Risk taking by cryptomarket drug vendors
Using data from the Silk Road 1 dark-web market, analyzes whether vendors are willing to ship drugs internationally, finding that this decision is significantly associated with parcel weight, vendor reputation and number of listings, expert-assessed law enforcement effectiveness in each country, and buyers' wealth and drug spending. The study covers dark-web vendors, not ordinary online shopping platforms, so it can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy.
Impacts of federal ephedrine and pseudoephedrine regulations on methamphetamine-related hospital admissions
A time-series analysis showing that after the US regulated ephedrine/pseudoephedrine bulk powders, methamphetamine-related hospital admissions in California fell by 35% (P<0.01); after single-ingredient ephedrine products were regulated, admissions in California, Arizona and Nevada fell by 48%, 71% and 52% respectively; after pseudoephedrine products were regulated, they fell by 38%, 41% and 61% respectively. The study covers three US states, so it can only be applied to Taiwan by analogy.
World Drug Report 2025（Key Findings）
In 2023 about 316 million people worldwide (6% of the population aged 15–64) had used drugs in the past year. From 2015–2023, trafficking and non-medical use of pharmaceuticals increased, driven mainly by pharmaceutical opioids such as fentanyl and tramadol and by benzodiazepines; in 2023 codeine accounted for nearly two-thirds of seizures of pharmaceutical opioids. The global statistics contain no separate data for Taiwan, so they can only be applied by analogy.
Statutory texts follow the 2026-10-17 version of Taiwan's Laws and Regulations Database; schedules follow the annexes announced by the Executive Yuan (controlled drugs up to the 2026-09-11 announcement; narcotics Annex Tables 1, 2 and 4 in the 2026-06-26 version and Annex Table 3 in the 2026-02-13 version); announcements over the past year are based on a scan of the Executive Yuan Gazette and are not guaranteed to be exhaustive. This guide found no explicit provision on the following, so they are not presented as rules: whether controlled drugs for personal use within the limits must always be declared on entry; which system Schedule 3 and 4 import consents are filed in online; whether the 2026-02-01 amendment to the quantity limit table changed the note on controlled drugs; why the tariff line for sibutramine raw material does not list 522; and how often individuals mailing medicines with controlled ingredients for personal use have been prosecuted or sentenced. Whether mailing or couriering constitutes "transport" is decided by the court case by case. "Individuals cannot obtain a 522 consent document for medicines made in mainland China that contain controlled ingredients" is an inference from the combination of regulation codes; the competent authority has issued no specific interpretation. None of the studies cited were conducted on HowBridge.
What are common questions about importing and mailing controlled drugs?
Can I have cold medicine sent from Taobao to Taiwan?
How many sleeping pills can I bring back to Taiwan from abroad?
Can I ask friends or family abroad to mail controlled drugs to me?
Which schedule is zolpidem in?
Is codeine cough syrup a controlled drug?
Which schedule is FM2 in?
What is the difference between controlled drugs and narcotics?
What happens if I buy weight-loss pills containing sibutramine online?
Must I declare controlled drugs to Customs when entering Taiwan?
Can I file a carrying declaration for Schedule 4 controlled drugs?
Can an ordinary company or individual import controlled drugs?
What is the difference between an import certificate and an import consent?
How much is the import consent fee, and how long does it take?
What does import regulation code 522 mean?
Which two controlled drugs were added in September 2026, and when did it take effect?
Further reading
Drug and medical device import permits (503, 504)
Rules for sending supplements and medicines to Taiwan
Inbound traveler allowances
List of goods banned from import into Taiwan
Overview of import permits by agency
International Trade Administration import permits for mainland Chinese goods (MW0)
What is a CCC code? How to look it up
Not sure whether your medicine contains a controlled ingredient?
Enter the product name in HowBridge Tariff lookup and check whether the import regulation column of the tariff line shows 522, 802 or MW0; the controlled drug schedule announced by the Executive Yuan ultimately prevails. Please do not send medicines containing controlled ingredients to the consolidation warehouse.
Look up tariffs and import regulations