Last updated: 2026-10-28 ｜ Sources: Article 37 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail (郵件處理規則) and Chunghwa Post’s “Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods”, the Civil Aviation Act (民用航空法), IATA Battery Guidance Document (2026), Civil Aviation Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (passenger carry-on baggage rules), the Commodity Inspection Act (商品檢驗法) and the Regulations Governing Exemption from Inspection of Commodities (商品免驗辦法), Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) inspection-exemption customs clearance codes, the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法), and Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Customs Import Tariff open data)
Can Power Banks Be Mailed? Does the Post Office Accept Them?
Direct AnswerNo. Chunghwa Post classifies lithium batteries as prohibited dangerous goods and does not accept them in either international or domestic mail. To ship them from mainland China back to Taiwan, you can use consolidated shipping instead: whole devices with the battery installed inside can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions; for power banks themselves, send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried; do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation; under HowBridge’s acceptance rules, items containing lithium batteries do not go by air.
Under Article 37, Subparagraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail, flammable, explosive, or other dangerous articles may not be mailed. Chunghwa Post’s “Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods” lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods, so neither power banks nor loose lithium batteries may be sent as ordinary mail; neither Article 37 of the Regulations nor Chunghwa Post’s classification table distinguishes between domestic and international mail, so domestic and international mail (including mail to mainland China) do not accept them. In addition, under Article 112-2 of the Civil Aviation Act (民用航空法), anyone who violates Article 43, Paragraph 1 by carrying or checking dangerous goods onto an aircraft is subject to a fine of NT$20,000 to NT$100,000, imposed by the Aviation Police Bureau; however, under the proviso to Article 43, Paragraph 1, goods that comply with the international dangerous-goods handling standards adopted by the Civil Aviation Administration are not covered—the penalty applies to carrying or checking goods that do not meet those standards; Article 112-2 also provides that a person who voluntarily reports an undiscovered violation to the Aviation Police Bureau may have the penalty reduced or waived.
| Shipping Method | Can Power Banks Be Shipped? | Basis／Requirements |
|---|
| Chunghwa Post International／Domestic Mail | Not accepted | Under Article 37, Subparagraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail; Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods lists lithium batteries as “miscellaneous dangerous goods” |
| Mail to mainland China | Not accepted | The same prohibited dangerous goods rules apply (lithium batteries are miscellaneous dangerous goods) |
| Consolidation: Air | No air for battery items | Under HowBridge’s acceptance rules, products containing lithium batteries (including built-in batteries) do not go by air; under international rules, power banks themselves (UN3480) also in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved by the relevant authority under Special Provision A201) |
| Consolidation: Sea Express | Confirm first | Whole devices with the battery installed inside can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions; for power banks themselves, send the specs first and customer service confirms whether they can be carried; do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation |
| Convenience-store pickup／home delivery within Taiwan | Rules vary by carrier | We have found no official written policy from these carriers; check with the carrier before sending and proactively disclose that the contents include lithium batteries |
Why Can't the Post Office Ship Them While Consolidation Services Can?The difference is whether dangerous-goods classification, packaging and declaration procedures are followed. Under the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail, dangerous articles are prohibited from the mail as an entire category; with consolidated shipping, by contrast, the carrier decides under international transport rules whether the goods can be accepted, and requires proper packaging and a truthful declaration. UN38.3 is a mandatory test that the battery model must pass, and the manufacturer or seller must be able to provide the test summary, but having UN38.3 does not mean HowBridge will necessarily accept the item. If a power bank is falsely declared as ordinary goods and hidden in a shipment, the parcel will be intercepted; concealing dangerous goods and bringing them onto an aircraft may also be penalized under the Civil Aviation Act provisions described above.
Commercial Imports: Recycling, Clearance, and Disposal Fee (Not Applicable to Personal Use)If batteries are imported on a commercial scale, responsible businesses must pay a recycling, clearance, and disposal fee under Articles 16 and 16-1 of the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法), at the rates approved and announced by the central competent authority; the rates announced by the Ministry of Environment prevail. This does not apply to personal use.
To compare consolidation methods for different battery-containing products, such as Bluetooth earphones, self-balancing scooters, and battery-powered toys, see the Complete Guide to Consolidating Lithium Battery Products. For shipping rules on mobile phones, laptops, earphones, and other battery-containing consumer electronics, see the Complete Guide to Consolidating 3C Products.
Shipping Power Banks Within Taiwan: Can You Use the Post Office, 7-11, or Home Delivery?
Can Chunghwa Post mail power banks and batteries?Chunghwa Post’s domestic mail does not accept power banks or lithium batteries either (Article 37, Subparagraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail; Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods). Whether convenience-store shipping (such as 7-ELEVEN’s store-to-store service) and home delivery accept lithium batteries varies by carrier, and we have found no official written policy; check with the carrier before sending and proactively disclose that the contents include lithium batteries.
Other batteries: Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods and lead-acid batteries as corrosives, so both are prohibited; the table does not list dry-cell or alkaline batteries and we have found no written rule, so check with Chunghwa Post customer service (0800-700-365) before mailing. Yahoo Auctions’ 7-ELEVEN shipping rules list vehicle storage batteries and dangerous items as not allowed, but that is a platform rule, not an official policy of 7-ELEVEN’s store-to-store service; that service’s customer line is 02-2721-4234.
Can Power Banks Bought on Taobao or in Mainland China Be Shipped to Taiwan?
Direct AnswerNot by post or as an ordinary parcel; for consolidation, confirmation comes first. Power banks are Class 9 dangerous goods. Under international rules, those not installed in equipment (UN3480) in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved by the relevant authority under Special Provision A201), and HowBridge does not ship lithium-battery items by air either. For power banks themselves, send the specs to customer service first; customer service will confirm whether they can be carried, and do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation; whole 3C (consumer electronics) devices with the battery installed inside (UN3481) can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions. Chunghwa Post lists lithium batteries as prohibited dangerous goods, so mail to or from mainland China does not accept them either.
Why Do Taobao Sellers Often Say “Can’t Ship to Taiwan”?
One common reason is that the courier the seller works with does not accept battery-powered goods; it does not necessarily mean Taiwan bans the import—which is a separate question from whether the product itself is legal (further reading: the “not available for sale in Taiwan” section of Items That Can’t Be Shipped from Taobao to Taiwan). In Taiwan, power banks are not prohibited imports but fall in the “inspection required” tier: the import regulation for Customs Import Tariff code 8507.60.00.10-7 is C02 (some goods under this item are commodities subject to import inspection as announced by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs), and under Article 6 of the Commodity Inspection Act (商品檢驗法), commodities subject to inspection that do not meet inspection requirements may not be imported; imports for personal use may be exempt when the conditions are met. In practice, send the specs to our customer service before ordering and state that it contains a battery; ship it to the warehouse only after customer service has confirmed whether it can be carried, instead of bundling it with ordinary parcels.
Should Batteries Go by Sea Express or by Air? How to Choose
Nothing containing a lithium battery goes by air. Whole devices with the battery installed inside (UN3481, such as mobile phones, laptops, and Bluetooth earphones) can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions; under international rules, power banks themselves and loose batteries bought on their own (UN3480) in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft—send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried; do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation.
How Much Tax Do You Pay When Importing from Mainland China?
Power banks fall under tariff code 8507.60.00.10-7 with a general duty rate of 2.5%; imports from mainland China that meet the ECFA rules of origin and are applied for with a certificate of origin may qualify for 0% (to apply the ECFA 0% rate, a qualifying certificate of origin must be submitted; without one, the general rate of 2.5% applies). A shipment with a customs value (CIF) ≤ NT$2,000 is exempt from customs duty and business tax (limited to 6 times per person per half-year); above that threshold, customs duty applies and Customs also collects business tax (Articles 10 and 41 of the Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act). BSMI personal-use inspection exemption: whether the information technology equipment code (CI000000000010, ≤ US$1,000, or more than that but ≤ 5 pieces) or the general code (CI000000000002, ≤ US$1,000 only) applies depends on how the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection classifies the actual product.
⚠️ Note: this section covers consolidated shipping. If you are a traveler bringing a power bank back to Taiwan yourself, an entirely different set of rules applies—from April 8, 2026 (ROC year 115), each passenger may carry no more than 2 power banks; they may not be checked in, used, or charged on board (this quantity limit applies alongside the 100Wh／160Wh tiers); see Can It Be Shipped by Air? and the Wh reference table below.
Can My Power Bank Be Shipped by Air? How to Determine
Direct AnswerIt depends on whether you are “carrying it as a passenger” or “shipping it through a consolidation service”: carry-on rules depend on Wh (≤100Wh is permitted, 100~160Wh requires airline approval and is limited to 2 units, and 160Wh and above may not be carried under international rules—check with your airline); for consolidated shipments, this Wh tier system does not apply: power banks themselves do not go by air—send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried; do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation. A single power bank or battery over 100Wh is a fully regulated dangerous good and cannot be mixed into ordinary consolidated shipments.
✅ Common Retail Capacities (≤ 100Wh, Approximately 27,000mAh or Less; 27,000mAh = 99.9Wh)
Passengers may carry on
Passengers may carry them onto an aircraft (they cannot be checked in), but from April 8, 2026 (ROC year 115), each passenger is limited to 2 power banks and may not use or charge them on board. The vast majority of commercially available power banks fall into this category. This tier system does not apply to consolidated shipments: send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried; do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation.
⚠️ High Capacity (> 100Wh)／Loose Batteries
Carry-On Restricted > 160Wh Prohibited as Carry-On
Passenger carry-on: power banks rated 100–160Wh require airline approval and are limited to 2 units; 160Wh and above may not be carried under international rules—check with your airline. A separate quantity rule also applies: from April 8, 2026 (ROC year 115), each passenger may carry no more than 2 power banks and may not use or charge them on board—this quantity limit applies alongside the 100Wh/160Wh tiers. Consolidated shipping: power banks themselves and loose batteries are not subject to the passenger Wh tiers and do not go by air; a single power bank or battery over 100Wh is a fully regulated dangerous good and cannot be mixed into ordinary consolidated shipments—please ask customer service first.
Wh Limits and Capacity Reference Table
Direct AnswerCalculated at 3.7V: 10,000mAh is approximately 37Wh, 20,000mAh is approximately 74Wh, and 26,800mAh is approximately 99Wh. Capacities of approximately 27,100mAh and above exceed 100Wh (27,000mAh = 99.9Wh, right at the limit), while capacities of approximately 43,300mAh and above exceed 160Wh.
| Power Bank Capacity (3.7V) | Approximate Wh | Passenger Carry-On｜Consolidated Shipping |
|---|
| 10,000mAh | Approximately 37Wh | Permitted as carry-on｜For consolidation, customer service first confirms whether it can be carried |
| 20,000mAh | Approximately 74Wh | Permitted as carry-on｜For consolidation, customer service first confirms whether it can be carried |
| 26,800mAh | Approximately 99Wh | Permitted as carry-on (near the 100Wh limit)｜For consolidation, customer service first confirms whether it can be carried |
| Approximately 27,100mAh or Above | > 100Wh | Carry-on requires airline approval and is limited to 2 units｜Consolidation: fully regulated dangerous good; cannot be mixed into ordinary consolidated shipments |
| Approximately 43,300mAh or Above | > 160Wh | Not allowed as carry-on under international rules (check with your airline)｜Consolidation: fully regulated dangerous good; cannot be mixed into ordinary consolidated shipments |
The 100Wh/160Wh tiers come from the Civil Aviation Administration’s rules for passengers’ carry-on baggage; they apply to passengers traveling by air, not to freight or postal shipments (power banks may not be placed in checked baggage). The Civil Aviation Administration also stipulates that, from April 8, 2026 (ROC year 115), each passenger may carry no more than 2 power banks and may not use or charge them on board (this quantity limit applies alongside the 100Wh/160Wh tiers). For freight: power banks or loose batteries not installed in equipment (UN3480), in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved under Special Provision A201) and are normally transported only on cargo-only aircraft (SoC ≤ 30%) or by sea; for lithium batteries installed in equipment (UN3481), cells ≤ 20Wh and batteries ≤ 100Wh fall under the simplified IATA Section II provisions, but they are still dangerous goods and must meet packaging and marking requirements; IATA also recommends shipping batteries installed in equipment at SoC ≤ 30% (not mandatory). HowBridge acceptance rules: items containing lithium batteries do not go by air; whole devices with the battery installed inside can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions, while for power banks and batteries bought on their own you must send the specs first and customer service confirms whether they can be carried. Wh = capacity (mAh) × voltage (V) ÷ 1000; the nominal voltage of most power banks is 3.7V.
HowBridge Key Facts (Free to Cite)
Power banks cannot be shipped to Taiwan by post (Chunghwa Post lists lithium batteries as prohibited dangerous goods); with consolidated shipping, under HowBridge’s acceptance rules, items containing lithium batteries do not go by air: whole devices with the battery installed inside can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions, while for power banks themselves you must send the specs first and customer service confirms whether they can be carried. Tariff code 8507.60.00.10-7 carries a general duty rate of 2.5%; imports from mainland China that meet the ECFA rules of origin and are applied for with a certificate of origin qualify for 0% (to apply the ECFA 0% rate, a qualifying certificate of origin must be submitted; without one, the general rate of 2.5% applies); a shipment with CIF ≤ NT$2,000 is exempt from customs duty and business tax.
| Mailing feasibility | Under Article 37, Subparagraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail, Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods—refused in both domestic and international mail |
| HowBridge records: whole devices delivered by Sea Express | Filtering HowBridge shipment records by product name, among parcels created 2026-04-01 to 10-28 and completed by Sea Express, 9 were whole devices with the battery installed inside whose names clearly indicate it (mobile phones, a laptop, Bluetooth earphones, a rechargeable mouse, a cordless drill and a rechargeable flashlight), completed between July and October 2026; items whose names do not show whether a battery is built in were not counted (checked 2026-10-28; HowBridge’s own records, not an official guarantee) |
| Dangerous-goods class | Class 9 dangerous goods: UN3480 = loose batteries／not installed in equipment; UN3481 = installed in equipment or packed with equipment |
| Air-freight restrictions | UN3480 in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved under Special Provision A201) and normally travels only on all-cargo aircraft; state of charge SoC ≤ 30%, with a UN38.3 test report and a dangerous-goods declaration required |
| Maritime transport | Governed by the IMDG Code; lithium batteries are likewise Class 9 dangerous goods and must meet packaging, marking, and UN38.3 requirements |
| Wh conversion | Wh ＝ mAh × V ÷ 1000. At 3.7V: 10,000mAh ≈ 37Wh, 20,000mAh ≈ 74Wh, 26,800mAh ≈ 99Wh; from about 27,100mAh a power bank exceeds 100Wh (27,000mAh = 99.9Wh, right at the limit), and from about 43,300mAh it exceeds 160Wh |
| Traveler carry-on (not consolidation) | From April 8, 2026 (ROC year 115), each passenger may carry no more than 2 power banks, and may not use or charge them on board (this quantity limit applies alongside the 100Wh／160Wh tiers); power banks may not be checked in; 100~160Wh requires airline approval and is limited to 2 units; 160Wh and above may not be carried under international rules—check with your airline |
| Import tariff | 8507.60.00.10-7, general duty rate 2.5%; 0% for imports from mainland China that meet ECFA rules of origin and are applied for with a certificate of origin (to apply the ECFA 0% rate, a qualifying certificate of origin must be submitted; without one, the general rate of 2.5% applies). CIF ≤ NT$2,000 is exempt from customs duty and business tax (limited to 6 times per person per half-year) |
| BSMI personal-use exemption | Personal-use inspection exemption: whether the information technology equipment code (CI000000000010, ≤ US$1,000, or more than that but ≤ 5 pieces) or the general code (CI000000000002, ≤ US$1,000 only) applies depends on how the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection classifies the actual product (when multiple declarations on the same import date are filed together, values and quantities must be aggregated) |
Figures in this table are drawn from Article 37 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail and Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods, the IATA Battery Guidance Document (2026), the Civil Aviation Administration’s carry-on baggage rules for passengers, Article 5 of the Regulations Governing Exemption from Inspection of Commodities, BSMI’s List of Common Inspection-Exemption Customs Clearance Codes, and the Customs Import Tariff open data of the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance. Each legal source is listed under this page’s legal sources; facts verified as of 2026-10-28. You are welcome to cite them with the attribution “HowBridge 0523.tw”. Figures labelled “HowBridge records” come from our own shipment records and are not an official guarantee.
Glossary
- UN3480
- Lithium-ion batteries not installed in equipment (loose batteries); power banks themselves fall into this category. In principle they may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved by the relevant authority under Special Provision A201) and normally travel only on all-cargo aircraft or by maritime transport.
- UN3481
- Lithium-ion batteries installed in equipment or packed with equipment—for example, Bluetooth earphones, cameras, and toys that contain batteries.
- Wh (watt-hour)
- The energy unit for lithium batteries, calculated as Wh ＝ mAh × V ÷ 1000. At 3.7V, 20,000mAh is about 74Wh.
- SoC (state of charge)
- State of Charge: the battery’s remaining charge expressed as a percentage. When lithium batteries are shipped by air on all-cargo aircraft, SoC must be kept at 30% or below.
- UN38.3
- The lithium battery transport safety test set out in Section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria for the transport of dangerous goods; lithium batteries shipped by air must have this test report.
- IMDG Code
- International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code): the international rules for transporting dangerous goods by sea; lithium batteries are likewise Class 9 dangerous goods and must meet packaging, marking, and UN38.3 requirements.
Should Lithium Batteries Go by Sea Express or by Air?
Can batteries go to Taiwan by HowBridge Sea Express?Yes, but only whole devices with the battery installed inside: each battery ≤100Wh, each cell ≤20Wh, and no damage—these can go by HowBridge Sea Express; for power banks themselves and batteries bought on their own, send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried. HowBridge does not ship any lithium-battery item by air. Under international rules, power banks themselves and loose batteries in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved by the relevant authority under Special Provision A201); do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation, and they may not be mixed into ordinary parcels.
Lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods and categorized by battery configuration: loose batteries (UN3480), batteries contained in equipment (UN3481), and batteries packed with equipment (UN3481). Consolidated shipments are arranged by battery type:
| Method | Requirements | Suitable For |
|---|
| Air | Under HowBridge’s acceptance rules, products containing lithium batteries (including built-in batteries) do not go by air; under international rules, power banks themselves (UN3480) also in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved by the relevant authority under Special Provision A201) | Not available for lithium-battery items |
| Sea Express | Governed by the IMDG Code; lithium batteries are likewise Class 9 dangerous goods and must meet packaging, marking, and UN38.3 requirements | Whole devices with the battery installed inside (meeting the conditions); for power banks and loose batteries, customer service must first confirm whether they can be carried |
Consolidation in Practice:Products containing lithium batteries cannot be mixed into ordinary parcels. HowBridge acceptance rules: items containing lithium batteries do not go by air; whole devices with the battery installed inside (phones, laptops, Bluetooth earphones, etc.) can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions; for power banks themselves and batteries bought on their own, send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried—do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation; for self-balancing scooters and other high-capacity battery products, see “Cannot go straight to the warehouse: legal restrictions apply, or separate assessment under dangerous goods procedures is needed” at the top of the page. If the shipping-fee calculator on this page shows an air option, it does not apply to products containing lithium batteries; Sea Express is NT$50 per unit, charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 10000), rounded up, with a delivery fee of NT$100 added when the actual weight is under 10 kg.
Do Imported Power Banks Require BSMI Certification?
Direct AnswerInspection is required for sale, while imports for personal use are generally eligible for exemption. The common exemption threshold is a total value of US$1,000 or less for goods of the same specification and model on the same declaration. Whether an exemption remains available above that value and which inspection-exemption customs clearance code should be declared depend on the product’s actual category. Confirm with a customs broker or BSMI before customs declaration.
Secondary lithium power banks are commodities subject to inspection announced by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Ministry of Economic Affairs; the inspection standards include CNS 13438, CNS 14336-1 and CNS 15364 (see BSMI’s comparison table of draft amendments to the inspection requirements for 3C secondary lithium power banks and four other products), and businesses must complete BSMI inspection procedures (such as certification registration) before selling them. Personal-use imports may qualify for inspection exemption under the following conditions:
Personal-Use Inspection-Exemption CriteriaUnder Article 5 of the Regulations Governing Exemption from Inspection of Commodities, personal-use goods not intended for sale may be exempt from inspection if the total value of goods of the same specification and model on the same declaration is US$1,000 or less. When goods of the same specification and model are filed under multiple declarations on the same import date, their values and quantities must be aggregated. The same article provides that above US$1,000, ordinary personal-use goods are limited to 2 pieces and information technology equipment to 5 pieces; under Article 8 of the same Regulations, personal-use goods of the same specification and model may be exempted only once within six months per obligated applicant.
BSMI’s “List of Common Inspection-Exemption Customs Clearance Codes” specifies different codes and conditions by product category—for example, CI000000000010 applies to information technology equipment (≤ US$1,000, or more than that but no more than 5 pieces), while CI000000000002 applies to goods not covered by a dedicated category (total value of goods of the same specification and model on the same declaration of US$1,000 or less, with no quantity limit; the code list took effect on April 1, 2019 (ROC year 108)). Although the inspection standards for power banks include the CNS 14336-1 safety standard for information technology equipment, the code to declare must be determined according to the product’s actual classification at the time of customs declaration. Confirm with a customs broker or BSMI rather than applying a code on your own.
Important:If the goods do not qualify for inspection exemption and no approval document from the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection is available, they may not be imported under Article 6 of the Commodity Inspection Act. Business-side liability: under Article 60 of the same Act, an inspection applicant who exports, imports, or places on the market commodities that do not meet inspection requirements is subject to a fine of NT$200,000 to NT$2,000,000. We recommend choosing a power bank that has obtained BSMI commodity certification registration.
Do Hand Warmers, Handheld Fans and Other Portable Rechargeable Appliances Need BSMI Inspection?
Direct AnswerYes, if the item is on the list of commodities subject to inspection. According to a press release from the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) dated 2026-08-06, since 2023 BSMI has progressively added 14 rechargeable electrical products, including handheld fans, curling irons and hand warmers, to the scope of mandatory inspection; businesses must complete the inspection procedure before the goods may be imported or leave the factory. Hand warmers were announced in 2025 and took effect on July 1, 2026. Inspection rules for power banks themselves are covered in the previous section.
What did the BSMI press release of 2026-08-06 say? Inspection and market surveillance highlights
| Topic | Press release content (summarized from the original) |
|---|
| Scope | Since 2023, 14 rechargeable electrical products, including handheld fans, curling irons and hand warmers, have progressively been added to mandatory inspection. The press release does not list all 14 items; check the "Commodities Subject to Inspection" lookup below for any specific product. |
| Business obligations | The inspection procedure must be completed before the goods may be imported or leave the factory. |
| Hand warmer timeline | Announced in 2025; took effect on July 1, 2026. |
| Main test items | Electrical safety items such as temperature rise, insulation protection and construction checks, plus electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing. |
| Market surveillance case | A US recall of OCOOPA hand warmers due to lithium-battery overheating (models including UT3053, UT3056, ZLS-118, ZLS-118S, ZLS-118D, H01 and H01(PD.)). On 8/6 BSMI disclosed it under "Foreign Defective Product Information" on its Product Safety Information website, asked domestic e-commerce platforms and distributors to take the products down as a precaution, and notified distributors to confirm imports; products confirmed to be in the recall scope must be recalled, with details published under "Product Recall Information". |
| Buying tips | Buy products bearing the Commodity Inspection Mark, and check the Chinese-language labeling: manufacturer name, address, voltage, power consumption or current, and model number. |
| Usage tips | Follow the manual: do not leave it charging unattended, do not use it in damp environments, and avoid hard drops or impacts. |
Where can you check the Commodity Inspection Mark and recall information?
To see whether a product needs inspection, or whether an inspection mark or certificate is valid, use BSMI's Commodity Inspection Online Service System; to check recalls or foreign defect notices, use the Product Safety Information website.
| What you want to confirm | Where to check | How |
|---|
| Does this product require inspection? | Commodity Inspection Online Service System "Commodities Subject to Inspection / by product category" | Enter the HS code or product name to see whether it is listed and which inspection scheme applies. |
| Is the inspection mark or registration certificate valid? | Commodity Inspection Online Service System "Commodity Inspection Mark lookup" and "Registration of Product Certification certificates" | Check the identification number on the mark or the certificate number. |
| Has it been recalled or reported as defective abroad? | Product Safety Information website "Product Recall Information" and "Foreign Defective Product Information" | Match by brand and model; the 8/6 hand warmer case was published under "Foreign Defective Product Information". |
Buying rechargeable gadgets online from China: how do you check the import requirements before shipping?
First look up the product's CCC tariff code and its import regulation code, then confirm in the BSMI system whether it is subject to inspection; for personal use, check the exemption conditions, and for resale the inspection must be completed by the obligated applicant. Whether it can be carried and by which transport mode depends on the lithium battery sections of this page and on our customer service reply.
- Use the HowBridge tariff lookup to find the CCC code and the "import regulations" column. In the Customs Administration tariff data, code C02 means "some goods under this heading are commodities subject to import inspection as announced by BSMI"; for example, power banks (8507.60.00.10-7) carry C02. "Some goods" means whether inspection applies still depends on the specific product.
- In the Commodity Inspection Online Service System, open "by product category" and check by HS code or product name whether the product is listed and which inspection scheme applies. The tariff code is as determined by Customs; similar products may be classified differently depending on their function.
- Personal use: see the exemption conditions in the previous section (Article 5 of the Regulations Governing Exemption from Inspection of Commodities, e.g. total value of the same specification and model on one declaration at or below US$1,000). For resale in Taiwan, or above the exemption conditions, the obligated applicant must complete the inspection procedure.
- Declare the product name, model and quantity truthfully. Most rechargeable gadgets have built-in lithium batteries; see the section "Should Lithium Batteries Go by Sea Express or by Air?" on this page, and ask customer service before ordering whether a specific item can be carried.
Separately, on 2026-08-12 BSMI pre-announced amendments to the inspection rules for stationary lithium energy storage devices (energy storage device category). These are stationary storage units, not power banks; the draft and its timeline are summarized in the commodity inspection overview.
Sources for this section (checked 2026-10-23)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Power Banks Be Mailed? Can the Post Office Ship Them?
No. Under Article 37, Subparagraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail, flammable, explosive, or other dangerous articles may not be mailed; Chunghwa Post’s “Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods” lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods; neither the Regulations nor the table distinguishes between domestic and international mail, so domestic and international mail (including mail to mainland China) do not accept them. In addition, under Article 112-2 of the Civil Aviation Act, anyone who violates Article 43, Paragraph 1 by carrying or checking dangerous goods onto an aircraft is subject to a fine of NT$20,000 to NT$100,000 (goods complying with the international dangerous-goods handling standards adopted by the Civil Aviation Administration are not covered; voluntarily reporting to the Aviation Police Bureau may reduce or waive the penalty). To ship them from mainland China back to Taiwan, you can use consolidated shipping instead: whole devices with the battery installed inside can go by Sea Express if they meet the conditions; for power banks themselves, send the specs first and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried—do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation; under HowBridge’s acceptance rules, items containing lithium batteries do not go by air.
How Can Power Banks Be Shipped Domestically?
Chunghwa Post’s domestic mail does not accept power banks or lithium batteries either (Article 37, Subparagraph 3 of the Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail; Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods). Whether convenience-store shipping (such as 7-ELEVEN’s store-to-store service) and home delivery accept lithium batteries varies by carrier, and we have found no official written policy; check with the carrier before sending and proactively disclose that the contents include lithium batteries. Other batteries: Chunghwa Post’s Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods lists lithium batteries as miscellaneous dangerous goods and lead-acid batteries as corrosives, so both are prohibited; the table does not list dry-cell or alkaline batteries and we have found no written rule, so check with Chunghwa Post customer service (0800-700-365) before mailing. Yahoo Auctions’ 7-ELEVEN shipping rules list vehicle storage batteries and dangerous items as not allowed, but that is a platform rule, not an official policy of 7-ELEVEN’s store-to-store service; that service’s customer line is 02-2721-4234.
Can Power Banks Be Shipped to Taiwan Through a Consolidation Service?
Confirmation comes first; acceptance is not guaranteed. Power banks are lithium batteries not installed in equipment (UN3480). Under ICAO/IATA rules, they in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (unless approved by the relevant authority under Special Provision A201), and HowBridge does not ship by air either. HowBridge has not yet verified the acceptable capacity, quantity, packaging and documentation conditions for power banks; please send customer service the product name, capacity (mAh and voltage, or Wh), quantity and whether it bears the 3C mark, and customer service will confirm whether it can be carried. Do not send it to the warehouse before confirmation. The 100Wh/160Wh classifications are passenger carry-on baggage rules, not our acceptance threshold.
How Do You Calculate a Power Bank's Wh?
Wh = capacity (mAh) × voltage (V) ÷ 1000. Most power banks have a nominal voltage of 3.7V. For example, 10,000mAh is approximately 37Wh, 20,000mAh is approximately 74Wh, and 27,000mAh is approximately 99.9Wh (right at the 100Wh limit).
Do Imported Power Banks Require BSMI Certification?
Products intended for sale must pass BSMI inspection. For personal-use imports, under Article 5 of the Regulations Governing Exemption from Inspection of Commodities, goods of the same specification and model on the same declaration may be exempt from inspection if their total value is US$1,000 or less (multiple declarations on the same import date must be aggregated). Whether an exemption remains available above that value and which inspection-exemption customs clearance code should be declared—such as CI000000000010 for information technology equipment or CI000000000002 for goods not covered by a dedicated category—depend on the product’s actual category. Confirm with a customs broker or BSMI before customs declaration.
Are Consumer Electronics Containing Lithium Batteries Also Classified as Dangerous Goods?
Yes. Products with built-in or included lithium batteries are also Class 9 dangerous goods (UN3481). Under HowBridge’s acceptance rules, whole devices with the battery installed inside, each battery no more than 100Wh and undamaged, can go by Sea Express, not by air; the battery model is legally required to pass UN38.3 testing, which branded products usually already meet, so no separate MSDS is needed. If the battery is packed separately from the device, or spare batteries are included, please check with customer service first.
Are Customs Duties Payable on Imported Power Banks?
Power banks fall under tariff code 8507.60.00.10-7, with a general duty rate of 2.5% (imports from mainland China that meet ECFA rules of origin may qualify for 0%; to apply 0%, a qualifying certificate of origin must be submitted, otherwise the general rate of 2.5% applies). Imports with a customs value of ≤ NT$2,000 are exempt from customs duty and business tax (limited to 6 times per person per half-year); above that amount, customs duty applies and Customs also collects business tax (Articles 10 and 41 of the Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act).
Can Loose or Rechargeable Batteries Be Shipped Separately to Taiwan?
Under international rules, loose batteries (UN3480) in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft, and HowBridge does not ship by air either. For replacement laptop batteries, camera batteries, 18650 cells and other batteries bought on their own, HowBridge has not yet verified the acceptable capacity, quantity and packaging conditions; please send the battery model, Wh marking and quantity first, and customer service will confirm whether they can be carried. Do not send them to the warehouse before confirmation. Batteries that can be put back into a device are assessed under the whole-device conditions once installed; you may also consider buying a finished product with a built-in battery instead.
Can I ship a laptop to Taiwan through consolidation? What about a laptop battery bought on its own?
A whole laptop (battery installed inside, each battery no more than 100Wh, undamaged) can go by HowBridge Sea Express if it meets the conditions, not by air; tick “battery item” in the consolidation note, and if you are unsure whether it qualifies, send the product link to customer service first. A replacement or spare laptop battery bought on its own (no device) is a standalone lithium battery (UN3480) and the whole-device conditions do not apply: you must first provide the battery model, the compatible laptop model, a photo of the battery label and the quantity, and customer service will confirm whether it can be carried. Do not send it to the warehouse before confirmation.
How can I tell whether a battery item can be legally exported from China?
Check two things first: one, China's export controls and its prohibited-export and export-licence catalogues (the control on lithium-ion batteries with a gravimetric energy density of 300Wh/kg or more under MOFCOM and GACC Announcement No. 58 of 2025 has been suspended until 2026-11-10 by MOFCOM Announcement No. 70 of 2025; mercury-containing primary batteries are on the sixth batch of the Catalogue of Goods Prohibited from Export); two, the international sea dangerous-goods rules (Amendment 42-24 of the IMDG Code, adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.556(108) and announced by the China Maritime Safety Administration in Announcement No. 20 of 2025, became mandatory on 2026-01-01): if a lithium battery is no more than 100Wh, each cell no more than 20Wh, in normal condition and the model has passed UN38.3, the exemption conditions of special provision 188 may apply; batteries over the thresholds can only go through the dangerous-goods export procedure, and for sea transport the manufacturer must apply for the dangerous-goods packaging certificate, whether this can be completed must be verified case by case; damaged or defective batteries are subject to special provision 376, and some cannot be transported. This is only an initial check at the level of export catalogues and transport rules: packaging marks, customs documents and customs regulatory conditions still have to be confirmed separately. The "Can this item be legally exported from China?" tool at the top of the page lets you enter specs and lists verified and unchecked conditions separately; Taiwan import and HowBridge acceptance are assessed separately.
Has HowBridge actually shipped whole devices with batteries to Taiwan?
Yes. HowBridge records: filtering HowBridge shipment records by product name, among parcels created 2026-04-01 to 10-28 and completed by Sea Express, 9 were whole devices with the battery installed inside whose names clearly indicate it (mobile phones, a laptop, Bluetooth earphones, a rechargeable mouse, a cordless drill and a rechargeable flashlight), completed between July and October 2026; items whose names do not show whether a battery is built in were not counted (checked 2026-10-28; HowBridge’s own records, not an official guarantee). The conditions are that the battery stays installed, each battery is ≤100Wh, each cell ≤20Wh, and nothing is damaged; power banks themselves and batteries bought on their own are not included in this count—send the specs first and customer service will confirm.
Legal Basis and Official Sources
- IATA Lithium Battery Guidance Document (Revised for the 2026 Regulations, DGR 67th Edition)—UN3480 in principle may not be carried as cargo on passenger aircraft (Special Provision A201 excepted) and must be shipped at SoC ≤ 30%; UN3481 cells ≤ 20Wh／batteries ≤ 100Wh fall under Section II (verified 2026-10-28):iata.org
- Civil Aviation Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, “Starting April 8, Passengers May Carry No More Than 2 Power Banks on Flights” (published April 2, 2026; effective April 8, 2026; limit of 2 per passenger, with on-board use and charging prohibited):caa.gov.tw
- Civil Aviation Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, “Power Banks Must Be Carried onto the Aircraft and Properly Protected; Never Place Them in Checked Baggage” (100Wh/160Wh rules for passengers’ carry-on baggage, January 11, 2023):caa.gov.tw
- Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7 of the Regulations Governing Exemption from Inspection of Commodities (information technology equipment: total value ≤ US$1,000, or more than that with a quantity not exceeding 5 pieces):law.moj.gov.tw
- BSMI List of Common Inspection-Exemption Customs Clearance Codes (CI000000000010 for information technology equipment):bsmi.gov.tw
- BSMI comparison table of draft amendments to the inspection requirements for 3C secondary lithium power banks and four other products (inspection standards for secondary lithium power banks: CNS 13438, CNS 14336-1, CNS 15364; verified 2026-10-28):bsmi.gov.tw
- Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, “When Purchasing Electrical Products through Cross-Border E-Commerce, Be Sure to Confirm Whether They Are Subject to Mandatory Inspection” (inspection-exemption customs clearance code CI000000000010):web.customs.gov.tw
- Chunghwa Post, “Classification Table of Prohibited Dangerous Goods” (lithium batteries are listed under “Miscellaneous dangerous goods”; verified 2026-10-11):post.gov.tw
- Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法), Articles 16, 16-1, and 51 (amended 2026-07-15 (ROC 115-07-15); the recycling, clearance, and disposal fee is an obligation of responsible businesses and does not apply to personal use; verified 2026-10-11):oaout.moenv.gov.tw
- Regulations Governing the Handling of Mail (郵件處理規則), Article 37, Subparagraph 3 (flammable, explosive, or other dangerous articles may not be mailed; amended 2022-05-27 (ROC 111-05-27); verified 2026-10-11):law.moj.gov.tw
- Civil Aviation Act (民用航空法), Articles 43 and 112-2 (carrying or checking dangerous goods onto an aircraft is subject to a fine of NT$20,000 to NT$100,000, imposed by the Aviation Police Bureau; verified 2026-10-11):law.moj.gov.tw
- Commodity Inspection Act (商品檢驗法), Articles 6 and 60 (commodities that do not meet inspection requirements may not be imported; an inspection applicant in violation is subject to a fine of NT$200,000 to NT$2,000,000; verified 2026-10-11):law.moj.gov.tw
- Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, Customs Import Tariff open data (85076000107 power banks with lithium-ion accumulators: Column 1 2.5%; Column 2 0%, applicable countries including CN; import regulation C02; data updated 2025-04-24; verified 2026-10-11):opendata.customs.gov.tw
- Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, ECFA Early Harvest List concordance of Taiwan and mainland China 8-digit tariff codes (lists Taiwan tariff no. 85076000, lithium-ion accumulators; verified 2026-10-11):opendata.customs.gov.tw
This page is a reference guide intended to help readers understand lithium battery transport and import rules. The actual transport scope, Wh limits, packaging and declaration requirements, and inspection-exemption eligibility are subject to the rules of airlines and carriers, IATA／IMDG requirements, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, and the Customs Administration, MOF. Regulations may change; refer to the latest official announcements.