What you can't ship from Japan to Taiwan
19 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 12 item types that cannot be sent to Taiwan and 7 that can be sent only under conditions. Separately, Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every destination, covering dangerous goods and items banned from international mail — perfume, aerosols and lithium batteries among them. Rules last verified against Japan Post on October 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 12
- Conditional
- 7
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Taiwan. They do not repeat the items Japan Post refuses to every country — those are on one shared page, linked below. A rule marked conditional allows the item only when the stated conditions hold; whether your product qualifies is what the ShipMate GO app works out before you book.
Plants & animals
1 prohibited · 4 conditional
- Prohibited
Vegetables and Fruits
Vegetables and fruits are prohibited from being shipped to Taiwan via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This restriction applies to all forms of vegetables and fruits.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 07
- Conditional
Mushrooms
Mushrooms may be shipped to Taiwan in quantities up to 1 kilogram, provided an import permit issued by Taiwan's Council of Agriculture is obtained. See conditional items under 'Plants' for further reference.
Conditions and documents
- Import permit issued by Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (農業委員会) and quantity does not exceed 1 kilogram → permitted
Documents: Import permit issued by Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (Council of Agriculture)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 07
- Conditional
Plants
Plants shipped to Taiwan may require an export inspection by a plant protection station and an import permit from the destination country's plant protection authority. Rice requires advance notification to the regional agricultural policy bureau unless sent non-commercially for personal use.
Conditions and documents
- Export inspection by plant protection station conducted and import permit from destination country's plant protection authority obtained (where required) → permitted
- Rice sent non-commercially for personal use → permitted without advance notification to regional agricultural policy bureau
- Rice sent commercially or not for personal use → advance notification to regional agricultural policy bureau required
Documents: Export inspection certificate from plant protection station (植物防疫所による輸出検査証明); Import permit from destination country's plant protection authority (名宛国の輸入許可証), where required; Advance notification to regional agricultural policy bureau (地方農政局等への届出) for rice sent other than non-commercially for personal use
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Protected Wild Fauna and Flora
Shipments of protected wild fauna and flora to Taiwan are permitted only when the sender has obtained prior authorization from the Council of Agriculture of the Board of Foreign Trade of the destination country. No other conditions are specified in the source.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the Council of Agriculture of the Board of Foreign Trade of Taiwan → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Council of Agriculture of the Board of Foreign Trade (Taiwan)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Rice
Rice may be shipped to Taiwan conditionally, provided the appropriate permit or certificate is obtained. Shipments exceeding 10 kilograms additionally require a permit issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Conditions and documents
- Certificate or equivalent issued by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan is attached → permitted
- Rice import quota certificate issued by the Central Trust of China is attached → permitted
- Import permit issued by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan is attached → permitted
- Shipment exceeds 10 kilograms → Additionally requires a permit issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Documents: Certificate or equivalent issued by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan; Rice import quota certificate issued by the Central Trust of China; Import permit issued by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan; Permit issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs (required when shipment exceeds 10 kilograms)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 10
Food
2 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Food originating from areas with insect pest infestations
Food imported from regions where insect pest infestations have been identified is prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. For other food items, refer to the conditional entry for 'Plants'.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Prohibited
Meat and meat products (including poultry)
Beef, beef trimmings, animal fat, other meat (including poultry), animal feed, foods containing raw meat, and embryos and blood of cattle, sheep, and goats are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via Regular, Parcel, and EMS. This prohibition covers the full range of meat types and their derived or associated products as listed.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
- Conditional
Food products (excluding Chinese mitten crab / Shanghai crab, and beef products whose import is prohibited)
Food products shipped to Taiwan are conditionally permitted, but require an import inspection application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health: corporate/business addressees must apply regardless of weight or value, while individual addressees must apply when a single mail item exceeds 6 kg total weight or USD 1,000 in value. Chinese mitten crab (Shanghai crab) and prohibited beef products are excluded from this conditional permission.
Conditions and documents
- Addressee is a corporation/business entity (regardless of total weight or value) → Must apply in advance for import inspection with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health
- Addressee is an individual AND total weight per mail item exceeds 6 kg OR value exceeds USD 1,000 → Must apply for import inspection with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health
- Addressee is an individual AND total weight per mail item does not exceed 6 kg AND value does not exceed USD 1,000 → Import inspection application not required
Documents: Import inspection application submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health (online application: https://oap.fda.gov.tw/)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Conditional
Tea
Tea may be shipped to Taiwan conditionally. Shipments exceeding 6 kilograms require a certificate of origin and a certificate of inspection issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Conditions and documents
- weight exceeds 6 kilograms → certificate of origin and certificate of inspection issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs are required
Documents: Certificate of origin; Certificate of inspection issued by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs (経済部標準検験局)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 09
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Counterfeit goods (counterfeit currency, securities, banknotes, banknote paper, stamps, and revenue stamps)
Counterfeit items are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This includes counterfeit currency, negotiable securities, banknotes, banknote paper, postage stamps, and revenue stamps.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing valuables
Registered ordinary mail items that contain coins, banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveller's cheques, platinum, gold, silver (worked or unworked), jewels, or other valuables are prohibited for regular shipments to Taiwan. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the precious materials are processed or unprocessed.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Weapons
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Weapons and related items
Firearms (including hunting rifles, air guns, and fishing guns), bullets, dynamite, and other weapons including their parts and components are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Toy guns and objects shaped like guns
Toys and other items shaped like guns may only be shipped to Taiwan if accompanied by a permit issued by the National Police Administration. This condition applies to regular mail, parcel post, and EMS.
Conditions and documents
- Permit issued by the National Police Administration (NPA) of Taiwan is presented → permitted
Documents: Permit issued by Taiwan's National Police Administration (National Police Administration permit)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Communist propaganda / subversive materials
Books, documents, and other items that incite communism are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This applies to all such printed and written materials regardless of format.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Chemicals
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Poison Gas / Toxic Gas
Poison gas and toxic gas are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. No exceptions or conditions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
Medicine & supplements
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Medicines / Pharmaceutical Drugs Prohibited by Taiwan's Medical Laws
Medicines and pharmaceutical drugs that are prohibited under Taiwan's medical laws may not be shipped to Taiwan via Regular, Parcel, or EMS services. These items are banned regardless of shipping method.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Other items
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Copyright and Intellectual Property Infringing Articles
Books, documents, and other articles that infringe patent rights, portrait rights, trademark rights, or copyright are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers any goods that violate intellectual property rights in these categories.
- Prohibited
Gambling-related articles and lotteries
Articles related to gambling and lotteries denominated in foreign currency are prohibited from being shipped to Taiwan via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This applies across all standard international postal and courier shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Prohibited
Narcotics and related substances
Narcotics and related substances — including opium, marijuana, cocaine, and poppy seeds — are prohibited from shipment to Taiwan via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. No exceptions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Applies to every destination, including Taiwan
Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every country on top of the rules above — outright bans on dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and lighters, and conditions on items such as lithium batteries.
Not sure about a specific item for Taiwan?
This page lists Japan Post's rules. The ShipMate GO app checks your actual item against them, asks the one or two questions a conditional rule needs, and tells you the outcome before anything is charged. Sending a parcel from Japan? Booking is free and you pay once, after weighing. Shopping from abroad with Shop for Me? Anything that can't ship is dropped from your order before you pay for the goods.
Common questions
- What can't I ship from Japan to Taiwan?
- Japan Post's import rules for Taiwan prohibit 12 item types, including Counterfeit goods (counterfeit currency, securities, banknotes, banknote paper, stamps, and revenue stamps); Communist propaganda / subversive materials; Registered ordinary mail containing valuables; Food originating from areas with insect pest infestations; Copyright and Intellectual Property Infringing Articles; Gambling-related articles and lotteries; Poison Gas / Toxic Gas; Meat and meat products (including poultry); and 4 more. On top of these, Japan Post refuses dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and loose lithium batteries to every destination.
- Which items can be shipped to Taiwan only under conditions?
- 7 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Mushrooms; Toy guns and objects shaped like guns; Tea; Rice; Protected Wild Fauna and Flora; Plants; Food products (excluding Chinese mitten crab / Shanghai crab, and beef products whose import is prohibited). Whether a specific product qualifies depends on the item, which is what the ShipMate GO app checks before you book.
- Does an item that isn't listed here ship freely to Taiwan?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Taiwan; an item that isn't named has no specific rule here, but it may still fall under Japan Post's carrier-wide bans or a general category such as food or medicine. Check the exact item in the ShipMate GO app, which reads these rules live and asks the follow-up questions a conditional rule needs.