Taipei Customs stated that the customs have seized 75 cases of inward passengers carrying soil-covered plants such as black pine, juniper and maple from Japan on April 27, 2025. Since these soil-covered plants did not meet the requirements of quarantine and inspection, which will be forwarded to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture for review.

Taipei Customs pointed out that in order to prevent invasion of pests and foreign plant diseases, which may threaten the local ecological environment and agricultural production, the inward passengers carrying plants shall apply to the Ministry of Agriculture for the issuance of quarantine permit before arrival. In accordance with article 15 of the "Plant Protection and Quarantine Act", pests, soil, plants, plant products, or other articles attached to soil., etc are prohibited if an inward passenger entering Taiwan is unable to get the quarantine permit; Furthermore, according to paragraph 2, article 17 of the same Act, passengers carrying the regulated articles shall apply for plant quarantine upon arrival at the port of entry. Passengers who fail to apply for a quarantine in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 17 shall be subject to a fine more than 3,000 New Taiwan Dollars but less than 15,000 New Taiwan Dollars.

Taipei Customs calls on inward passengers to take notice of the aforementioned regulations. Arriving passengers who carry plants shall declare to Customs via the Red (Goods to Declare/Customs Service) Channel upon arrival. In addition, a quarantine permit shall be applied before arrival. If there is any questions about customs declaration procedures, please feel free to contact Taipei Customs at 0800-311-085 for more information. Taipei Customs will continue to cooperate with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture to prevent pests and foreign plant diseases from spreading to protect our local ecological environment.