Can You Ship Pet Food to Taiwan?
HowBridge currently provides consolidation services only from China (the Shenzhen consolidation warehouse) to Taiwan. It has not yet launched routes from the United States, Japan, Korea, Europe, or other overseas regions, and does not have any overseas warehouse addresses available for use, official rates, or guaranteed transit times. The warehouse names, shipping fees, and transit times mentioned on this page are provided solely as general market references and do not represent the services offered by this site. Do not use them to fill in a delivery address or place an order. If any such routes are launched in the future, the official website announcements and the terms then in effect will apply.
Last updated: 2026-09-01 · This page is a quarantine regulation and feasibility guide; the overseas line is not yet launched
The Shippability Verdict: Check Ingredients Before You Think About Shipping Cost
Whether pet food can enter Taiwan comes down to "ingredients": products containing beef, pork, mutton, or venison (even-toed ungulates) or poultry/avian-derived ingredients are regulated quarantine articles that by law may not be imported by mail — ordinary consolidated online-shopping shipments essentially don't work. Fish-based formulas and retort-sterilized canned products are the quarantine-exempt exception.
Meat-Based (Beef, Pork, Mutton, Poultry) Dry Food and Treats
Dog and cat food containing even-toed ungulate or poultry/avian-derived ingredients is a regulated quarantine article: importing it legally requires an original quarantine certificate issued by the exporting country's animal quarantine authority, plus a manufacturing facility registered with the exporting government — documentation an individual online shopper can almost never obtain. More critically, regulated quarantine articles may not by law be imported by mail; violators face return, forfeiture, or destruction. Meat jerky and freeze-dried raw food (chicken or beef formulas) all fall into this category.
Fish Formulas and Sterilized Canned Food: Exempt from Quarantine
Under the current "Quarantine Requirements for the Import of Dog and Cat Food," two categories are exempt from quarantine: (1) products containing "other kinds" of animal-derived ingredients (for example, fish-only formulas — fish are neither even-toed ungulates nor poultry); (2) products containing no bovine-derived ingredients and produced by retort-sterilized canning (most retail canned main-meal food). Purely plant-based treats containing no livestock or poultry (including egg) ingredients also require no animal quarantine declaration. This is the one segment that's genuinely workable for anyone buying pet food from overseas.
Meat-Based Pet Food Made in Mainland China
Mainland China falls under the disease-endemic framework for several officially designated animal infectious diseases. For its meat-based dog and cat food to be legally imported, the manufacturing facility must be on-site inspected and certified by Taiwan authorities, undergo specified heat treatment, and carry an official quarantine certificate — no approved mainland Chinese facility case has been found, so in practice it simply cannot get in. Don't buy meat-based pet treats on Taobao to ship to Taiwan.
Quarantine Rules: Legal Basis, Documentation, and the Truth About 6 kg
The claim circulating online that "personal-use shipments under 6 kg are cleared" is a dangerous oversimplification — 6 kg is the quantity cap for items carried into Taiwan, not a quarantine exemption threshold. Whether quarantine applies depends on ingredients.
The legal basis is the "Quarantine Requirements for the Import of Dog and Cat Food", promulgated under Article 33 of the Act on the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases (current version effective from April 29, 2022): "dog and cat food" means products containing even-toed ungulate or poultry/avian-derived ingredients, intended for dogs or cats to eat or chew, classified under tariff code 2309.10.00.00-2 (retail dog and cat food) or 4205.00.90.10-4 (animal-hide chew products). The list of "disease-free regions" for seven animal infectious diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, classical swine fever, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and others) is announced item by item by the Ministry of Agriculture, and any region not on the disease-free list is treated as a disease-endemic region.
The correct reading of "6 kg": the combined quantity cap for animal products a traveler may carry into Taiwan (the same limit applies to mail) is 6 kg — but this is a "maximum amount allowed," not "quarantine-exempt if under 6 kg." Dog and cat food containing animal-derived ingredients falls under the "quarantine declaration required" category regardless of quantity; it's only products "containing no livestock or poultry (including egg) animal-derived ingredients" that are exempt from declaration.
What about pet food from disease-free regions like the US and Canada? A simpler category applies: no on-site facility inspection by Taiwan authorities and no heat-treatment certificate are required, but a manufacturing facility registered with the exporting government, plus an original quarantine certificate issued by the exporting country's animal quarantine authority, are still required — documentation an ordinary consumer shopping online cannot obtain. So the claim that "US and Canadian pet food is usually cleared" is not credible; legal imports are typically handled by importers who already have the documentation capability in place.
One additional note: under a proviso in the Requirements, gelatin, collagen, chondroitin, glucosamine, dairy, animal fats, and extracts are not counted as "even-toed ungulate or poultry/avian-derived ingredients" — supplement-type products containing these ingredients may fall within the quarantine-exempt scope, subject to case-by-case determination.
Under the Act on the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases: regulated quarantine articles may not be imported by mail; violators face return, forfeiture, or destruction. Importing without applying for quarantine is punishable by a fine of NT$50,000–1,000,000 (the responsible party is the importer or their agent — for an online order, the recipient is the importer). Knowingly importing a regulated quarantine article whose import has been publicly prohibited carries a maximum penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment plus a fine of up to NT$3,000,000. Sellers who advertise dog and cat food online without a legal import channel face an additional fine of NT$30,000–150,000. Application of these provisions is subject to the competent authority's announcements and the laws currently in force.
Tariff & Taxes: 2% on Retail Dog and Cat Food
Retail-packaged dog and cat food is classified under tariff code 2309.10, with a Column 1 duty rate of 2% (not the 0% that circulates online — 0% is the rate for 2309.90, "other prepared animal feed," which is a different sub-classification), plus 5% business tax.
| Item | Tariff Code | Column 1 Duty Rate | Import Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog and cat food for retail sale | 2309.10.00.00-2 | 2% | B01 (regulated quarantine article) + MP1 (mainland Chinese goods conditionally permitted) |
| Animal-hide pet chew products (chew bones, etc.) | 4205.00.90.10-4 | As determined by Customs | B01 (regulated quarantine article) |
| Other prepared animal feed (not retail dog and cat food) | 2309.90 series | 0% | 404 (feed import registration certificate required, commercial) + MW0 (not permitted from mainland China) |
If the duty-paid value (CIF) exceeds NT$2,000, the entire shipment is taxed (and the duty-free allowance no longer applies after more than 6 times in a six-month period). Keep in mind: the duty rate isn't the real issue — quarantine is — B01 means the item must go through quarantine under the "List of Regulated Quarantine Articles (Animals and Plants)"; without complete documentation, it still won't get through. Commercial imports are separately subject to declaration under the "Regulations Governing Declaration by Pet Food Operators" (a declaration-based system tied to operator status — a different matter from the "animal drug import registration" claim circulating online). The tariff code is subject to final determination by Customs at the time of declaration.
What About Prescription Diets
Veterinary prescription diets for kidney, urinary, gastrointestinal, and similar conditions are still legally classified as "pet food" (not drugs), so the same quarantine rules above apply — a meat-based formula is a regulated quarantine article. A retailer requiring a vet prescription is a store policy, not a Taiwan import rule. Practical recommendations:
Hill's Prescription Diet
Lines include c/d (urinary), k/d (renal), i/d (gastrointestinal), and z/d (low-allergen). Taiwan has an official distributor and veterinary-clinic channels — since prescription diets are tied to treatment continuity, buying through a Taiwan channel with a vet's prescription is the most reliable route, with no risk of supply getting stuck in transit.
Royal Canin Veterinary
Lines include Urinary SO, Renal, and Gastrointestinal. Taiwan also has distributor channels; formula details may differ slightly by country of manufacture (US vs. France), so confirm with your vet before switching sources.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets
Lines include UR (urinary), HA (hydrolyzed protein), and EN (gastrointestinal). Regular Pro Plan and the veterinary diet line are separate product lines; the veterinary line is mainly available in Taiwan through veterinary clinics.
8 Major Brands, Viewed Through Quarantine Rules
The brand information here holds up as always, but every brand still has to clear the "ingredients determine quarantine category" test first. We don't list live prices — exchange rates and promotions change quickly, and for most meat-based products, feasibility matters far more than the price gap.
1. Hill's Science Diet
A major US manufacturer, mainly chicken and lamb formulas — containing poultry/even-toed-ungulate ingredients means it's a regulated quarantine article, so personal consolidated shipping isn't feasible. Taiwan has an official distributor, so it's available through regular retail channels.
2. Royal Canin
Known for breed- and age-specific formulas. Most formulas contain poultry meat, making them regulated quarantine articles. Taiwan's distributor network is comprehensive — if a specific formula is out of stock, ask your vet about alternatives first.
3. Orijen / Acana (Champion Petfoods, Canada)
A leading name in high-protein fresh-food-style formulas. Most formulas contain poultry and red meat, making them regulated quarantine articles; fish-only formulas like Six Fish theoretically fall under the quarantine-exempt "other kinds of animal-derived ingredients" category — but you still need to check the full ingredient list line by line (many "fish formulas" contain poultry-derived ingredients too) and confirm shipping and declaration requirements. Taiwan has a distributor.
4. Stella & Chewy's (Freeze-Dried Raw)
Freeze-Dried Raw products are mostly chicken, beef, or duck formulas — freeze-dried raw meat is the most quarantine-sensitive category of all, so don't attempt personal consolidated shipping. Taiwan's distributor carries a selection of items.
5. Wellness (CORE line)
A grain-free, high-protein line, mainly poultry-based formulas, making it a regulated quarantine article. Available through Taiwan retail channels.
6. Blue Buffalo
A major mid-priced US manufacturer; the Life Protection and Wilderness lines contain poultry meat, making them regulated quarantine articles. Retail availability outside the US is limited.
7. Taste of the Wild
Game-based formulas (venison, bison) — even-toed ungulate ingredients make them regulated quarantine articles. Taiwan has a distributor.
8. Fish-Based Canned Main Meals and Fish-Formula Dry Food (Cross-Brand)
If you're buying from overseas, this is where the genuinely workable category actually is: fish-only formulas (containing no livestock or poultry ingredients) and retort-sterilized canned products containing no bovine-derived ingredients are exempt from quarantine under the current requirements — check the ingredient list and labeling line by line before ordering, and declare truthfully.
Checking Your Channel: Chewy, Amazon, and Taiwan Retailers
The channel information here holds up as always, but remember this first: a platform being able to sell it does not mean Taiwan can receive it. The following is a neutral overview and does not imply that any consolidated shipping service is currently being provided.
1. Chewy (the largest US pet e-commerce retailer)
The widest selection, with Auto-Ship subscriptions and an online prescription verification system, but it does not ship directly to Taiwan; and its core products (meat-based dry food, freeze-dried raw) are mostly regulated quarantine articles under Taiwan law. Its practical use for Taiwan consumers is mainly for checking specs and ingredient lists.
2. Amazon US
Some pet food items offer international shipping — but being able to check out doesn't mean it will clear customs: meat-based dog and cat food is still bound by quarantine rules and the mail-import ban, and any loss from return or destruction is the buyer's own responsibility. Classify the product using this page's verdict cards before you order.
3. Taiwan Retail Channels (Distributors and E-Commerce)
Most brands on this page have an official distributor in Taiwan — distributor products have already completed the legal import process (quarantine, declaration), and shelf life and storage conditions are also better assured. For meat-based pet food, a Taiwan retail channel isn't the second-best option — it's the only compliant one.
5 Checks Before You Order
HowBridge's overseas line is not yet launched; the following is a pre-order checklist and does not imply that any receiving or shipping service is currently being provided.
- Read the Full Ingredient List and Determine the Quarantine CategoryBeef, pork, mutton, venison, or poultry ingredients such as chicken or duck mean it's a regulated quarantine article (essentially not feasible for personal online orders); fish-only formulas, retort-sterilized canned food with no bovine-derived ingredients, and purely plant-based treats are exempt from quarantine or declaration. Check "fish formulas" item by item for any poultry-derived ingredients mixed in as well.
- Check the Country of OriginMeat-based pet food made in mainland China cannot get in, in practice (strict disease-endemic-region conditions, no approved facilities found); products from disease-free regions like the US and Canada fall under a simpler category, but legal import still requires the statutory documentation.
- Think Through Whether You Can Actually Get the DocumentationRegulated quarantine articles require an original quarantine certificate from the exporting country's animal quarantine authority plus a manufacturing facility registered with the exporting government — documentation an individual consumer usually cannot obtain. If you can't get it, don't order; use a Taiwan retail channel instead.
- Work Out the Duty and TaxRetail dog and cat food carries a 2% import duty plus 5% business tax; if the duty-paid value (CIF) exceeds NT$2,000, the entire shipment is taxed. Use the import duty calculator to estimate total cost — but remember, if it can't clear quarantine, an accurate tax estimate won't help you.
- Declare Truthfully Through EZWayFill in the product name truthfully (e.g., "canned pet fish food"), and keep the ingredient list and transaction receipt on file. See the EZWay tutorial for details.
Frequently Asked Questions About Importing Pet Food
HowBridge's overseas line is not yet launched; the answers below are explanations of regulations and feasibility only, and do not imply that any service is currently being provided.
Your Pet's Food: Compliance Matters More Than Savings
HowBridge's overseas line is in preparation and not yet launched. There's no room for shortcuts with the quarantine rules on meat-based pet food — return, destruction, and fines all fall on the recipient. Distributor products through Taiwan retail channels, which have already completed legal import, are the right answer for your pet's food.
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