US Vitamins & Supplements: Shipping to Taiwan Guide
NOW Foods / Garden of Life / Pure Encapsulations / Thorne + iHerb Code Guide 2026
📅 Updated:
How to buy NOW Foods, Garden of Life Sport, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne Research, Doctors Best, Solgar, Country Life, Jarrow Formulas, California Gold Nutrition, Vitamin D 5000 IU, Omega-3 fish oil, probiotics, lutein, collagen, protein powder, B complex, magnesium, zinc, and Vitamin C from iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon US, and Pure Formulas, plus what to know when shipping them to Taiwan.
NOW Foods
Garden of Life
Thorne
iHerb codes
Shipping to Taiwan
United States Route in Preparation — Not Yet Available
HowBridge does not currently offer or operate any United States-to-Taiwan freight forwarding, purchasing-agent, or payment-agent service. The service does not currently exist, and there is no usable U.S. or Oregon warehouse address, no official rates, and no guaranteed transit times. Any warehouse names, shipping fees, or transit times mentioned elsewhere on this page are general market information only and do not represent services offered by this website. They must not be used to fill in a shipping address or place an order. If this route becomes available in the future, only the official website announcement and the terms then in effect will apply.
Services currently available:
Taobao/Tmall Shipping to Taiwan
Mainland China-to-Taiwan Freight Forwarding Route
China-to-Taiwan Shipping Overview
The US supplement industry is the world's largest, with a market worth about USD 58 billion in 2024. NOW Foods, Garden of Life, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, Doctors Best, Solgar, Country Life, and Jarrow Formulas are frequently discussed by Taiwan supplement buyers, while iHerb is the largest global supplement e-commerce platform with a Chinese interface and referral discounts of 5-15%. Buying through iHerb or Vitacost is often 40-60% cheaper than Taiwan official pricing: NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count at USD 12 (NT$378) versus NT$680 in Taiwan, Garden of Life Vitamin Code Multivitamin 240-count at USD 35 (NT$1,103) versus NT$2,580, Pure Encapsulations B-Complex 120-count at USD 45 (NT$1,418) versus NT$3,200, and Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day at USD 28 (NT$882) versus NT$2,200. This guide covers 8 major brands, iHerb discount codes, TFDA import rules, and shipping-to-Taiwan basics.
Supplements are not medicine - Vitamins, probiotics, fish oil, lutein, collagen, and similar dietary supplements are not prescription drugs or OTC medicine. Prescription drugs cannot be sent as ordinary parcels: you need a diagnosis certificate and a physician's prescription from the medical institution in Taiwan or abroad where you were treated, and must apply to import them for personal use under Taiwan's Regulations for the Administration of Drug Samples and Gifts (藥物樣品贈品管理辦法). Products with traditional-medicine ingredients are separately controlled. Use supplements responsibly and seek professional health advice when needed.
Contents
1. 8 Major Supplement Brands
| Brand | Positioning | Founded | Typical product | iHerb price | Taiwan official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods | Affordable mainstream | 1968 | Vitamin D3 5000 IU | USD 12 | NT$680 |
| Garden of Life | Organic + sports | 2000 | Vitamin Code Multivitamin | USD 35 | NT$2,580 |
| Pure Encapsulations | Professional hypoallergenic | 1991 | B-Complex 120-count | USD 45 | NT$3,200 |
| Thorne Research | NSF athlete-certified positioning | 1984 | Basic Nutrients 2/Day | USD 28 | NT$2,200 |
| Doctors Best | Enhanced formulas | 1990 | Glucosamine Chondroitin | USD 35 | NT$2,800 |
| Solgar | Premium legacy brand | 1947 | Vitamin C 1000mg | USD 25 | NT$1,580 |
| Jarrow Formulas | Research-focused | 1977 | Curcumin 95 | USD 30 | NT$1,800 |
| California Gold Nutrition | iHerb private label | 2014 | Omega-3 Fish Oil | USD 11 | No official import |
Buying Recommendations
- Budget and general household use - NOW Foods or California Gold Nutrition
- Ingredient focus and sports users - Garden of Life Sport
- Allergy-sensitive users - Pure Encapsulations
- Athlete-tested positioning - Thorne Research
- Enhanced formulas for joints or cardiovascular support - Doctors Best
- Premium legacy brand preference - Solgar
2. iHerb Discount Code Guide
iHerb is a major global supplement retailer with a Chinese interface and discount codes that can reduce orders by 5-15%:
Common Codes
- BIG10 / NEW10 - 10% off the first order for new customers, subject to iHerb terms
- RUR0125 / OWN5 - 5% off for returning customers, subject to current terms
- iHerb Rewards - earn about 5% rewards credit for future orders
- Subscribe & Save - subscription discount around 5% with automatic delivery
Free Shipping Conditions
- Orders above USD 60 may qualify for free shipping; the threshold depends on the destination and current iHerb policy.
- US domestic free-shipping thresholds can be lower, often around USD 20 depending on promotion.
- Large purchases above USD 150 may trigger extra discounts when available.
Sale Timing
- iHerb Anniversary Sale (August) - sitewide 25-30% off promotions
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday (November) - sitewide 20-30% promotions
- Christmas / New Year sales (December-January) - selected brands around 25% off
- Brand Spotlight - rotating monthly brand discounts such as NOW, Garden of Life, and Doctors Best
California Gold Nutrition is iHerb's private label - Launched by iHerb in 2014, it is often priced 20-30% below comparable mainstream brands. California Gold Nutrition Omega-3 Fish Oil 200-count at about USD 11 (NT$346) can be around 30% cheaper than comparable NOW Omega-3 options.
3. Top 10 Supplement Picks
- NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count - USD 12 (NT$378), a common vitamin D choice
- NOW Omega-3 Fish Oil 1000mg 200-count - USD 16 (NT$504), fish oil supplement
- Garden of Life Vitamin Code Multivitamin Women / Men 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103), multivitamin
- Doctors Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103), joint-support supplement
- NOW Magnesium Citrate 240-count - USD 14 (NT$441), magnesium supplement
- Garden of Life Primal Defense Probiotics 90-count - USD 28 (NT$882), probiotic supplement
- Solgar Vitamin C 1000mg 250-count - USD 25 (NT$788), vitamin C supplement
- NOW Lutein 20mg 60-count - USD 22 (NT$693), lutein supplement
- Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day 60-count - USD 28 (NT$882), travel-friendly multivitamin
- NeoCell Super Collagen + C 250 tablets - USD 22 (NT$693), collagen plus vitamin C
4. Fish Oil and Probiotics
Omega-3 Fish Oil
- NOW Omega-3 1000mg - USD 16 / 200 softgels, EPA 180mg + DHA 120mg, affordable first choice
- Carlson Norwegian Fish Oil - USD 35 / 250ml liquid, Norwegian anchovy source and higher purity positioning
- Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 2x - USD 45 / 60 softgels, EPA + DHA 1280mg, higher-dose option
- Garden of Life Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil - USD 30 / 60 softgels, organic-positioned antioxidant blend
Room-Temperature Probiotics
- Garden of Life Primal Defense 90-count - USD 28, 8 strains and 5 billion CFU
- NOW 8 Billion Acidophilus & Bifidus - USD 14 / 60-count, entry option
- Renew Life Ultimate Flora 50 Billion - USD 30 / 30-count, higher-dose option
- Jarrow Saccharomyces Boulardii - USD 18 / 90-count, travel-use probiotic option
Refrigerated Probiotics: Do Not Use Sea Freight
- Florastor (S. boulardii) - refrigerated versions need cold-chain air shipping.
- Culturelle Kids Probiotics - refrigerated versions need cold-chain air shipping.
5. TFDA and Import Tax
Personal-use supplements can skip TFDA food import inspection under the MOHW announcement of April 16, 2019: tablet or capsule foods are limited to 12 bottles per product and 36 bottles in total (original packaging only); powders, liquids and other foods are counted per declaration line item (same name, ingredients, brand, manufacturer and origin) and must be worth USD 1,000 or less and weigh 6 kg or less. Drugs (HS 3004) are not covered by the food exemption. The TFDA announcement prevails.
| Item | Tariff code | Duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multivitamins / minerals / probiotics (tablets, capsules) | 2106.90.99.20 | 30% | Import regulation codes 511, F01; plus 5% business tax |
| Single vitamins (e.g. vitamin C, D) as retail tablets / capsules | 2106.90.99.20 (3004.50 if classified as a drug) | 30% (3004.50 is 0%) | 2936 covers vitamin raw materials, not retail tablets |
| Protein powder / high-protein nutrition (protein 50% or more) | 2106.90.30 | 5% | Import regulation codes 501, F01 |
| Prescription drugs | 3004 | - | Requires a personal-use drug sample application |
| Traditional medicine ingredients | - | - | Strictly controlled |
* These are general (column 1) duty rates; customs makes the final classification. The low-value exemption under Article 49(2) of the Customs Act is calculated on the combined dutiable value of the same shipment, and only applies at or below the NT$2,000 limit set by the Ministry of Finance. It is not calculated per bottle: once several bottles in one shipment exceed NT$2,000 in total, the full value is taxed at the tariff rate, and frequent importers are excluded.
Duty-Free Range
- Combined dutiable value of the same shipment at or below NT$2,000 → no import duty or business tax (Customs Act Article 49(2))
- Same shipment above NT$2,000 in total → the full value is taxed; after more than 6 duty-free releases in half a year (from the 7th), the low-value exemption no longer applies
- No food import inspection: tablets / capsules up to 12 bottles per product and 36 in total; other foods per declaration line item up to USD 1,000 and 6 kg
Prohibited or Controlled Items
- Prescription drugs: cannot be sent as ordinary parcels; you need a diagnosis certificate and physician's prescription from the medical institution in Taiwan or abroad where you were treated, and must apply for personal use under Article 2(4) of the Regulations for the Administration of Drug Samples and Gifts (Article 14), with quantities no more than a reasonable prescribed amount (Article 6)
- Supplements containing traditional medicine ingredients such as ginseng, reishi, or some high-dose curcumin products
- CBD / THC cannabis-related products
- Melatonin: regulated as a drug in Taiwan regardless of dose, so the personal-use food limits do not apply; hormone-type ingredients such as DHEA may also be regulated as drugs, so check with TFDA before buying
6. Store Ranking
- iHerb (iherb.com) - the largest supplement e-commerce platform, Chinese interface, discount codes, and free shipping above qualifying thresholds (subject to current iHerb policy)
- Vitacost (vitacost.com) - major US supplement retailer with some exclusive brands and Black Friday discounts around 25-35%
- Pure Formulas (pureformulas.com) - strong source for Pure Encapsulations and practitioner-style brands
- Amazon US - Subscribe & Save 5-15%
- NOW Foods official site - direct store with occasional exclusive bundles
- Garden of Life official site - Sport series and selected organic products
- Thorne official site - professional and athlete-focused positioning
- Walmart - mainstream brands such as NOW and 21st Century
7. Shipping Times and Packing
From the US to Taiwan, ordinary international sea freight usually takes about 28-35 days and air freight about 7-10 days, depending on the carrier. Refrigerated probiotics are not suitable for sea freight and need cold-chain air shipping.
Recommended 5-Layer Moisture-Control Packing
- Keep the original plastic bottle and sealed cap unopened.
- Add silica gel, usually 2-3 packs per carton.
- Wrap each bottle individually with bubble wrap.
- Fill voids with impact foam.
- Use a double-wall carton with "Vitamins + Fragile" labeling.
8. FAQ
How do iHerb discount codes work for new customers?
iHerb is a major global supplement platform with a Chinese interface and multiple discount layers: (1) BIG10 / NEW10 are commonly used new-customer first-order codes for about 10% off, subject to current terms; (2) RUR0125 / OWN5 are commonly used returning-customer codes for about 5% off; (3) qualifying orders above USD 60 may ship free, with the threshold depending on the destination and current iHerb policy; (4) iHerb Rewards can return about 5% credit for future orders; (5) bulk orders above USD 150 may unlock extra discounts; (6) Black Friday and Cyber Monday often bring 20-30% sitewide promotions; (7) rotating brand events may discount NOW, Garden of Life, Doctors Best, and others by about 25%; (8) iHerb's California Gold Nutrition private label is often the lowest-price option. For a first order, combine a new-customer code, member rewards, and sale items where possible.
Which brand is best: NOW Foods, Garden of Life, or Pure Encapsulations?
The brands target different buyers. (1) NOW Foods, founded in 1968, is one of the largest affordable supplement brands in the US, with 1,000+ products and good value for general household use. NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count is about USD 12 (NT$378) versus NT$680 in Taiwan. (2) Garden of Life focuses on organic and Non-GMO positioning, with its Sport line popular among active users; prices are usually mid to high at about USD 25-65. (3) Pure Encapsulations focuses on hypoallergenic, low-additive formulas, often USD 35-80 per bottle, and is a premium choice for sensitive users. (4) Thorne Research is known for NSF certification and athlete-focused positioning, with products around USD 30-90. (5) Doctors Best is strong for affordable enhanced formulas such as glucosamine and curcumin. Choose NOW for budget entry, Garden of Life Sport for active users, Pure Encapsulations for sensitivity, and Thorne for athlete-tested positioning.
How much cheaper are US supplements than Taiwan pricing?
US supplements can be 40-65% cheaper than Taiwan official pricing: (1) NOW Foods Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count - iHerb USD 12 (NT$378) versus NT$680, a 44% gap; (2) NOW Omega-3 Fish Oil 1000mg 200-count - USD 16 (NT$504) versus NT$1,180, a 57% gap; (3) Garden of Life Vitamin Code Multivitamin Women 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103) versus NT$2,580, a 57% gap; (4) Pure Encapsulations B-Complex 120-count - USD 45 (NT$1,418) versus NT$3,200, a 56% gap; (5) Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day 60-count - USD 28 (NT$882) versus NT$2,200, a 60% gap; (6) Doctors Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103) versus NT$2,800, a 61% gap; (7) Solgar Vitamin C 1000mg 250-count - USD 25 (NT$788) versus NT$1,580, a 50% gap; (8) California Gold Nutrition can be another 20-30% cheaper than comparable NOW products.
Do supplements require TFDA food inspection?
Personal-use supplements can skip TFDA food import inspection under the MOHW 2019 announcement: tablet or capsule foods up to 12 bottles per product and 36 bottles in total; powders, liquids and other foods are counted per declaration line item and must be worth USD 1,000 or less and weigh 6 kg or less. Drugs (HS 3004) are not covered by the food exemption. Duty rates: (1) multivitamin / mineral / probiotic tablets and capsules (2106.90.99.20, food preparations in tablet or capsule form) carry a 30% general duty rate; retail single-vitamin tablets are usually classified here too, while 2936 covers vitamin raw materials and does not apply to retail products; (2) protein powder / high-protein nutrition (2106.90.30, protein 50% or more) is 5% duty + 5% business tax; (3) prescription drugs (HS 3004) cannot be sent as ordinary parcels — you need a diagnosis certificate and physician's prescription from the medical institution where you were treated, and must apply for personal use under the Regulations for the Administration of Drug Samples and Gifts, within a reasonable prescribed quantity; (4) traditional medicine ingredients are strictly controlled and some are prohibited. The low-value exemption applies when the combined dutiable value of the same shipment is NT$2,000 or less (Customs Act Article 49(2)); it is not calculated per bottle. Quantities above the exemption require a TFDA food import inspection application, with fees and timing set by TFDA.
Will fish oil, probiotics, or lutein spoil during sea freight?
Most supplements are dry tablets, capsules, or softgels and are stable at room temperature for normal sea freight periods of 28-35 days. (1) Vitamin tablets and capsules usually have 24-36 months of shelf life and ship well when sealed. (2) Fish oil softgels usually have about 24 months of shelf life; sealed bottles tolerate ordinary container conditions. (3) Room-temperature probiotics such as Garden of Life Primal Defense and NOW 8 Billion are designed for shelf storage. (4) Refrigerated probiotics such as certain Florastor or Culturelle Kids versions should not use sea freight and need cold-chain air shipping. (5) Lutein and astaxanthin softgels are typically room-temperature products. (6) Unopened protein powder often has about 24 months of shelf life. (7) Collagen powder is also generally shelf-stable. 5-layer moisture-control packing is recommended (sealed original bottle, silica gel, bubble wrap, foam fill, and a double-wall carton).
iHerb direct shipping vs a local US forwarder: which is better?
iHerb direct shipping and a local US forwarder fit different order types. (1) iHerb direct shipping to Taiwan can be fast, often 7-12 days by DHL, and is suitable for small orders around USD 60-150 when direct shipping is available. (2) A local US forwarder receives your order at its US address and then reships it to Taiwan; ordinary sea freight usually takes about 28-35 days, depending on the forwarder. (3) Some brands, including certain Pure Encapsulations or Thorne products, may be limited to US domestic delivery and require a US address through a local forwarder. (4) If you order from iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon US, and other stores at the same time, compare forwarders' combined-shipment quotes and transit times. Use iHerb direct for simple USD 60-150 orders; for multi-store orders or US-only products, compare local US forwarders yourself.
HowBridge currently ships only from mainland China to Taiwan
HowBridge operates only a consolidation warehouse in Shenzhen and an operations warehouse in Taoyuan. For products from the US, use the seller's international shipping or compare local forwarders yourself. If you also shop on Chinese platforms such as Taobao, 1688 or Pinduoduo, HowBridge can consolidate those orders to Taiwan.
China-to-Taiwan Shipping