Is Buying Jerky or Mooncakes Online and Shipping Them to Taiwan Smuggling?

Zero tolerance for African swine fever — What cannot be shipped, the penalties, and what you need to know

⚡ Quick answer
  • All meat products from affected areas are prohibited from import—including meat-filled mooncakes, jerky, meat floss, pork balls, and sausages.
  • Online imports can be caught too: Postal parcels are the largest source of illegal pork products. Customs uses X-rays / quarantine detector dogs / parcel-opening inspections.
  • Fines of up to 100 × ten thousand New Taiwan dollars; foreign nationals caught in violation may be denied entry if their fines remain unpaid.
  • The correct approach: Do not ship any meat products. Choose non-meat food gifts, or buy the meat products you want in Taiwan.

Contents

  1. Why there is zero tolerance for African swine fever
  2. Which items count as ‘meat products’ that cannot be shipped
  3. Why parcels from online purchases can also be detected
  4. Penalties at a glance
  5. What you need to know and alternative options
  6. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why there is zero tolerance for African swine fever

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease in pigs with a high mortality rate and no effective vaccine. The virus can survive in meat products for a long time. An incursion would severely damage Taiwan’s pig farming industry and threaten food supplies and exports. The government therefore applies zero tolerance to meat from affected areas—disease prevention focuses on ‘whether the meat comes from an affected area,’ regardless of quantity or whether it is for personal use.

In the news: Meat testing positive for African swine fever virus at the border mainly comes from China and Vietnam; illegal postal parcels have surged severalfold during holiday periods.

Which items count as ‘meat products’ that cannot be shipped (the scope is broader than you think)

Fresh / frozen / processed meat
Meat-filled mooncakes / rice dumplings
Jerky / meat floss / meat strips
Sausages / cured meat / ham
Pork balls / meatballs / hot pot ingredients
Instant noodles / prepared meal pouches containing meat
Meat sauce / minced pork / canned meat
Meat-based pet treats / feed containing meat

Anything containing meat (especially pork or poultry) is high risk. Do not buy any of it online or ship it to Taiwan through parcel consolidation. This includes meat-based pet treats and feed containing meat.

Why parcels from online purchases can also be detected

‘A small packet bought online should be fine’ is a particularly dangerous gamble. Customs uses X-ray screening, quarantine detector dogs, and parcel-opening inspections for imported postal parcels / express shipments, with intensified checks during peak seasons. Customs statistics show that, among pork product violations, postal parcels account for the largest share, followed by air express—the very channels primarily used for consolidated online purchases.

Penalties at a glance (under the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases)

  • Illegally importing or carrying meat products from affected areas can result in fines of up to 100 × ten thousand New Taiwan dollars.
  • Foreign nationals fined for carrying pork products from affected areas who do not pay the fine in full on the spot may be denied entry.
  • Goods that do not match their declarations or contain concealed items prohibited from import are additionally subject to confiscation and penalties under the Customs Anti-smuggling Act.

What you need to know and alternative options

✓ Three essential principles
  • Do not ship any meat products: If it contains meat, leave it out of your consolidated parcel—including meat-based pet treats.
  • Choose non-meat food gifts instead: Biscuits, sweets, tea, and similar items (which must still comply with food import regulations). If you want jerky, buy it in Taiwan.
  • Avoid problem items when consolidating parcels: Check the ingredients before ordering. Do not let one packet of jerky subject the entire shipment to inspection, delays, or even penalties.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What happens if you buy jerky, meat floss, or mooncakes from mainland China online and ship them to Taiwan?
To prevent African swine fever, all meat products from affected areas are prohibited from import, including meat-filled mooncakes, jerky, meat floss, pork balls, and sausages. Customs statistics show that postal parcels are the largest source of illegal pork products. ‘Online imports can be caught too,’ and violations can result in fines of up to 100 × ten thousand New Taiwan dollars.
Which items count as ‘meat products’ that cannot be shipped?
The scope is broader than you might think: fresh / frozen / processed meat, meat-filled mooncakes / rice dumplings, jerky / meat floss / meat strips, sausages / cured meat / ham, pork balls / meatballs, instant noodles / prepared meal pouches / hot pot ingredients containing meat, meat-based pet treats / feed containing meat, and more. Anything containing meat (especially pork or poultry) is high risk—do not ship any of it.
Why can parcels from online purchases also be detected?
Customs uses X-ray screening, quarantine detector dogs, and parcel-opening inspections for imported postal parcels / express shipments, with intensified checks during peak seasons. Customs statistics show that postal parcels account for the largest share of pork product violations, followed by air express. Meat testing positive for African swine fever virus at the border mainly comes from China and Vietnam.
Is even a small packet for personal consumption prohibited?
Yes. Disease prevention focuses on ‘whether the meat comes from an affected area,’ regardless of quantity or intended use. Even a small packet containing meat is prohibited and will be confiscated upon discovery, with penalties imposed. An African swine fever incursion would severely damage Taiwan’s pig farming industry and food safety, which is why a zero-tolerance policy applies.
What should I do if I want jerky or food gifts from overseas?
The correct approach: do not buy meat products online or ship them to Taiwan through parcel consolidation. Choose non-meat food gifts instead (such as biscuits, sweets, and tea, which must still comply with food import regulations), or buy the meat products you want in Taiwan. Actively avoid goods containing meat when consolidating parcels—do not let one packet of jerky affect the entire shipment.

This article provides a general overview. Rules and penalties are governed by the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases and the latest announcements from the competent authority (the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture). Contact the competent authority about individual cases. The cited references and primary sources are listed below.

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Cited references

This page cites primary government, judicial, and academic sources from HowBridge’s customs reference index (1,171 records). Each item links to its original source.

Reference index data version: 2026-08-16