Taichung Customs recently discovered discrepancies between the country of origin declarations and the marked origin for imported goods, specifically combat boots, which were reported as originating from Vietnam (VN). However,after inspection, it was found that  the products and their packaging were marked with "MADE IN TAIWAN." This mislabeling contravenes regulations set by the International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs(TITA), which requires importers to accurately improve country of origin marked on the labels before goods can be released, otherwise the goods should be returned. Customs will also refer the case to the TITA for further administrative decisions in accordance with the Trade Law.

Taichung Customs stated that under current import regulations, certain products, including footwear, ceramic tiles, non-medical masks, and textiles (such as clothing, towels, socks, and bedding), must be accurately labeled with their country of origin upon import. While there is no mandatory requirement for other imported goods to display their origin, any labels indicating origin must not be misleading. Common misleading practices include using incorrect country names, geographic names, company names, addresses, phone numbers, websites, or trademarks without appropriate identifiers such as "importer," "agent," or "distributor," which can lead to confusion about the correct country of origin. For example, when importing Vietnamese shoes, the goods are only marked with the name and address of the domestic company, which may lead to mistaking that country of origin is Taiwan.

Taichung Customs reminds importers that, according to Articles 17 and 28 of the Trade Law, the country of origin for imported goods must be accurately marked. Any mislabeling will result in punishments made by the TITA. If an importer intentionally mislabels the origin, they could face penalties under Article 255 of the Criminal Code, which may lead to up to one year of imprisonment. Importers are urged to pay close attention to compliance and avoid legal repercussions. For further information regarding regulations on country of origin labeling, importers can visit the TITA website at https://www.trade.gov.tw .

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