Taiwan strengthens inspection rules for imported US processing potatoes

The quarantine standards for imported potatoes used for processing are the same as those governing domestic potatoes, and any potatoes showing signs of sprouting, rot, or mold must be disposed of and destroyed entirely, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) said yesterday.

The US Trade Representative's 2026 National Trade Estimate Report, released on March 31, addressed Taiwan's potato import regulations.

According to the report, Taiwan had rejected entire shipments containing sprouted potatoes since 2018. It added that revised rules adopted in February 2026 allow shipments with sprouting, rot or mold to enter, provided the affected potatoes are sorted out and disposed of at processing facilities.

The reportedly policy sparked concerns from lawmakers and members of the public, who fear that sprouted potatoes containing toxic glycoalkaloids (including solanine) could be processed into food products, posing a potential risk of food poisoning.
 

APHIA outlines quarantine and food safety requirements

The APHIA said that in addition to maintaining the existing ban on potatoes with any of eight types of pests and diseases, the new protocols mandate that US exporters strengthen sprout inhibitor application to ensure shipments are free of sprouts and soil.

As for food safety, imported potatoes must contain no more than 200 parts per million (ppm) of solanine, which is the same standard for domestically produced potatoes, it said.

The APHIA said that if processing potatoes imported from the US show signs of sprouting, rot, or mold, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be notified, and these shipments would be sent directly to designated processing plants in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Once the shipment reaches the processing plant, potatoes that are sprouted, rotten, or moldy must be discarded and destroyed, it said.

Through the dual-layer mechanism - border inspection and selection at processing plants - the APHIA would strictly safeguard Taiwan's agricultural environmental safety and public food security, it said.
 

Taiwan adopts separate protocol for processing potatoes

Previously, US-imported potatoes, regardless of whether fresh or processing potatoes, were subject to the Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Table Stock Potatoes. After consultations with the US based on scientific principles, Taiwan has agreed to adopt a new quarantine protocol for imported processing potatoes modeled after Japan's standards.

The APHIA said imported US processing potatoes must be free of specific pests and soil, and treated with sprout inhibitors while also complying with food safety standards regarding solanine levels and pesticide residues.

Even after passing border inspections, any potato found with sprouts exceeding 0.5cm at the processing plant must be removed and excluded from production, it added.
 

Political debate over enforcement and food safety

Meanwhile, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it is an indisputable scientific fact that sprouted potatoes are toxic.

Tens of thousands of tonnes of potatoes are imported each year, it said, questioning whether Taiwan has sufficient border inspection personnel to turn over each potato and check "every single one," and whether it has laboratory testing capacity.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday addressed what it called the "misinformation" about "the government allowing the importation of sprouted potatoes."

Fan Yun, Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus:

"The Ministry of Health and Welfare has three layers of gatekeeping to ensure food safety."

They include enhancing sprouting prevention before the potatoes arrive in Taiwan, followed by removing and disposing of any sprouted, rotten, or moldy potatoes before processing, and conducting random inspections to test for contaminants and toxins when they reach the domestic market, she said.