[Taiwan] List of Prohibited Content

There are certain items that are not allowed on Carousell at all. They may not necessarily be illegal, however, they do not fit our selling criteria, or are not in the spirit of Carousell.

Sellers are responsible for ensuring that the items they are selling complies with local laws and regulations.

Please find below a non-exhaustive guideline on prohibited and restricted items that are not allowed on Carousell:

 

1. Animals and Plants Products

✘ Foreign animals or foreign animal products (inclusive of free samples) that fail to comply with animal quarantine regulations and/or fail to apply for quarantine in accordance with the regulations

 

According to Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases:

1. In order to prevent and control infectious animal diseases, foreign animals or animal products should be imported into Taiwan under quarantine, and should comply with animal quarantine regulations and apply for quarantine in accordance with the regulations. Those who import quarantine objects without authorization can be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of maximum 7 years and a fine of maximum NT$3 million. Those who fail to apply for quarantine in accordance with the regulations will be fined at minimum NT$50,000 maximum NT$1 million, and they may be punished per violation.

2. Overseas commodities shall not include foreign animals or foreign animal products as free samples.

3. If the recipient violates Article 34-3 of Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases and fails to deliver the quarantine objects to animal quarantine agencies for destruction, the penalty shall be between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000.

Laws & Regulations: Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases

 

✘ Human beings, human remains, body parts and bodily fluids
✘ Live animals and insects
✘ Live insects used as bait or feed
✘ Any items that are or are made from or include any part of an animal that is subject to regulations or laws for the protection of live animals, including endangered/exotic species and domesticated animals, including but not limited to, pangolin scales, ivory, rhinoceros horn, tiger bone, bear bile, bear paw
✔ Leather products
✔ Taxidermy
✔ Wigs or hair extensions
✘ Foreign plants or plants of unknown origins
✘ Metal noose traps, jagged edge snap traps

Laws & Regulations: Animal Protection Act, Wildlife Conservation Act,

Plant Protection and Quarantine Act, Human Organ Transplant Act, Criminal Code of the Republic of China

 

2. Tobacco, Drugs and Alcohol

✘ Any tobacco and other smoking products made from tobacco or its substitutes
✘ E-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and related products, such as e-liquid
✘ Smoking cessation products containing nicotine, such as smoking cessation patches and smoking cessation gums
✘ Products with cigarette brands and/or cigarette packaging printed on the appearance, such as cigarette boxes/cases, playing cards, and clothing with cigarette brand printed
✘ Cigarette-shaped products, such as cigarette-shaped lighters and candy

Laws & Regulations: Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, The Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act, Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Amendment of tobacco hazards prevention act

 

✘ Drugs and drug paraphernalia, such as pipes and shisha
✘ Products and equipment for inhaling or injecting drugs
✘ Products and equipment that violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act and Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (including but not limited to the laws or regulations mentioned)

Laws & Regulations: Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act

 

✘ Beverages having an alcohol content by volume of more than 0.5 % , such as sample wine, souvenir wine, cooking wine

Laws & Regulations: The Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act

 

3. Adult, Mature and Violent Content

✘ Pornography and adult material including, but not limited to, pornographic books, magazines, pictures and videos
✘ Publications, video tapes and computer software that contain violent, brutal or adult content and fail to comply with the legal regulations of classification
✘ Adult toys, sexual wellness and enhancement products or services
✘ Adult industry services and jobs, including escort services and sensual massage services
✘ Used daily use intimate wear (e.g. bras, panties, boxers, briefs, etc)
✘ Listings that promote or position products or services in a sexually suggestive manner i.e. contains nudity, implied nudity
✘ Contraceptive products
✔ Novelty items, such as soft toys and plushies that are not for the use of sexual enhancement or pleasure

Laws & Regulations: Criminal Code of the Republic of China, The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, Publications and video Classification Administration Act, Software Classification Administration Act

 

4. Medicine, Healthcare and Medical Devices

✘ Over the counter medicine
✘ Prescription drugs
✘ Products that contain medical ingredients exceed the dosage limitation regulated by Ministry of Health and Welfare, and do not apply for drug manufacturing permit, such as Centrum, Viatril-S, pain relief patch, Propecia, Regaine, Seirogan, Cialis, Viagra, Losec, Reductil, Eye drops, Eye Flush 
✘ Non-pharmaceuticals advertise for drugs and medical devices
✘ Any consumables with slimming/weight loss effect
✘ Injectable health or cosmetic substances
✘ Contact lens
✘ Any instruments, machines, apparatus, materials, software, reagent for in vitro use, and other similar or related articles, which is used in diagnosing, curing, alleviating, or directly preventing human diseases, regulating fertility, or which may affect the body structure or functions of human beings, such as thermometers, body fat scale, band-aid, medical masks, condoms, tampons, pregnancy/blood sugar/diabetes test kits, contact lenses (eye drop, solution, protein remover tablets, case), pain relief patch, stethoscope, medical oximeter, sphygmomanometer, blood glucose meter, lancet, enema, walker, wheelchair, rehabilitation gears, sports braces, support corset, abdominal support belt, nasal washer, micro-needle roller/derma roller
✘ COVID-19 testing kits
✘ Any products found to contain banned substances and/or are identified to cause adverse side effects. For the list of banned products, please click here 
✘ Any drugs, poisons, antibiotics, pharmaceutical products that violate applicable laws or regulations

 

Please note: even if you are licensed dealers of medical devices, it's prohibited to sell medical devices online.

Laws & Regulations: Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Medical Care Act, Medical Devices Act

 

✘ Drugs or medicines for animal/pets, such as Heartgard, Frontline, Nexgard, Broadline, Revolution, Bravecto
✘ Agro-pesticides
✘ Any veterinary drugs, fertilizer, pesticide and environmental agents that violate applicable laws or regulations

 

Environmental agents related regulations:

1. According to Environmental Agents Control Act, it is prohibited to advertise and sell environmental agents without Environmental Protection Administration permits. Violators will be fined from NT$60,000 to NT$300,000.

2. There should be permits for legal environmental agents and the permits can be checked in the Search System for Environmental Agent Permits and Pest Control Operator Services (https://mdc.epa.gov.tw/PublicInfo/).

3. For more information about environmental agents, please refer to the Safe Use of Environmental Agents Website (https://topic.epa.gov.tw/evsu/mp-8.html) managed by Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau.

 

Laws & Regulations: Veterinary Drugs Control Act, Agro-pesticides Management Act, Environmental Agents Control Act, Fertilizer Management Act

 

5. Food, Health Food, Organic Agricultural Products and Infant Formula

✘ Opened or partially consumed food
✘ Food unfit for human consumption, e.g., expired food
✘ Food containing prohibited substances/substances in excess of permitted proportions
✘ Exaggerated or misrepresented advertisement of food or claim food with medical efficacy
✘ Goods originating in the Mainland Area which are not yet designated and announced by the competent authority are prohibited for importation to the Taiwan Area
✘ Marijuana and its related products and cannabinoids (CBD) are not allowed to be used for food

✔ Food products comply with Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (including but not limited to the laws or regulations mentioned)

The container or external packaging of food and food raw materials shall conspicuously indicate in Chinese and common symbols the following matters:

1. Product name
2. Name of the ingredients; those that contain two or more ingredients shall indicate the respective ingredients in descending order of proportion
3. Net weight, volume or quantity
4. Name of food additives; in the case of a mixture of two or more food additives which are named according to its function shall indicate the name of each additive separately
5. Name, telephone number and address of the manufacturer or that of the responsible domestic company. The tracing sources of the domestic certified agricultural products; and the production systems prescribed by the central agricultural competent authority in a public announcement
6. Country of origin
7. Expiry date
8. Nutrition label
9. Genetically modified food raw materials
10. Other matters designated by the central competent authority in a public announcement

Laws & Regulations: Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, Regulations Governing Trade between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (Article 7) 

 

✘ Label or advertise food that has not been approved by the Health Food Control Act as Health Food
✘ Health Foods do not indicate the Ministry of Health and Welfare permit and label
✘ Health Food advertisements are false and exaggerated, extend beyond the approved scope of the content registered at the central competent authority

Laws & Regulations: Health Food Control Act

 

✘ Sell, label, display or advertise in the name of organic agricultural products, but have not been verified by competent authority
✘ Organic agricultural products do not indicate the Council of Agriculture permit and label

Laws & Regulations: Organic Agriculture Promotion Act, Agricultural Production and Certification Act 

 

✘ Infant and follow-up formula, such as infant and follow-up formula for children under 1 year old

Laws & Regulations: Regulations Governing the Management of Infant and Follow-up Formula Advertisement and Sales Promotion

 

6. Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances

✘ Products include the substances regulated by Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act, such as laughing gas, ammonium nitrate, hydrofluoric acid

According to Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act:

Article 21: The sell or transfer of toxic chemical substances may not be conducted by mail orders, online shopping or other transaction platform wherein the identities of the given parties may not be identified. 

Article 28: The sell or transfer of chemical substances of concern may not be conducted by mail order, online shopping or other transaction platform wherein the identities of the given parties may not be identified. 

Article 60: Those who operate mail order, online shopping or other platforms that provide transactions for selling or transfer in violation of regulations in Paragraph 2, Article 21 or Paragraph 2, Article 28 shall be fined NT$60,000 to NT$300,000, and may be fined per violation.

Laws & Regulations: Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act

 

7. Weapons, Ammunition, Police and Military Equipment, Firework, Firecracker and LPG cylinder

In general, products intended for physical harm or could cause grievous harm are not allowed.

✘ Firearms and any other firing devices that can shoot metal objects or bullets with lethal force, such as standard or non-standard cannons, shoulder arms, machine guns, submachine guns, carbines, automatic rifles, rifles, traditional carbines, pistols, pen guns, gas guns, tranquilizer guns, shotguns, air guns, harpoon guns
✘ Airsoft gun
✘ Modified toy gun, paintball gun and BB gun
✘ Ammunition and other lethal or destructive bombs and explosives, such as cannonball, bullet
✘ Gun related accessories, such as silencer, cartridges, gunstock
✘ Knives and other lethal knives not for legitimate use, such as samurai swords, stick knives, double knives, brass knuckles, steel (iron) whips, thrusters, daggers
✔ Domestic, culinary and kitchen knives
✔ Utility knives
✔ Swiss knives 
✔ Display or collectibles stated to be no longer functioning or harmful
✘ Other weapons, such as tasers, imitation firearms, concealed weapons, knuckle dusters, blow pipe, bow, arrow, nunchaku
✘ Other accessories, such as bulletproof vest, handcuffs, pepper spray
✘ Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder

Laws & Regulations: Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act, Establishment Standard and Safety Control Regulation for Manufacturing, Storing, Processing Public Hazardous Substances and Flammable Pressurized Gases Places

 

✘ Police or military equipment, such as batons, handcuffs, tasers
✘ Police or military uniforms with medals and/or insignias

Laws & Regulations: Criminal Code of the Republic of China, Regulations Governing the Permission to Manufacture, Sell and Possess Police Weapons, Criminal Code of the Armed Forces

 

✘ Firework and firecracker, such as firework, fairy sticks, pop-pop

Laws & Regulations: Firework and Firecracker Management Act

 

8. Counterfeit and Replica items 

✘ Counterfeit items
✘ Defaced merchandises
✘ Items and services that infringe any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary or intellectual property rights including, but not limited to, unauthorised sale of eBooks, films, video games, etc.
✘ Listings offering products that are likely to confuse other community members about the source or affiliation of the items i.e. "OEM", "factory direct", "overrun"

Laws & Regulations: Copyright Act, Trademark Act, Patent Act

 

9. Stolen Property, Rental Products and Unlawful Disposing of Products

✘ Stolen property
✘ Rental products and unlawful disposing of such products, such as DVDs for rental only, rental cars

Laws & Regulations: Criminal Code of the Republic of China, Personal Property Secured Transactions Act

 

10. Currency, Securities and Financial Services

✘ Domestic or foreign currency in circulation
✘ Shares, stock and other securities
✘ Unauthorised reproduction of currencies
✘ Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Litecoin
✘ Loan, money exchange and other financial products or services
✘ Bank transfer, top-up and payment helper services
✘ Pawning services
✔ Currencies no longer in circulation

Laws & Regulations: The Banking Act of The Republic of China, Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, Securities and Exchange Act

 

11. Lottery, Tickets and Vouchers

✘ Domestic or foreign government-issued lottery 

Laws & Regulations: Public Welfare Lottery Issue Act、Public Welfare Lottery Management Act

 

✘ Reselling transportation or recreation tickets for more than face value
✘ Department store, accommodation, restaurant vouchers without legal standard form contract

Laws & Regulations: Social Order Maintenance Act, Consumer Protection Act, Retail/Accommodation/Restaurant Voucher Standard Form Contract Regulations 

 

12. Personal Data

✘ Selling or leaking personal data lists containing the names, phone numbers, addresses, e-mails or other personal information of others
✘ Software and equipment used to collect or send a large number of personal data

Laws & Regulations: Personal Data Protection Act 

 

13. Cosmetics, Beauty and Aesthetic Services

✘ DIY cosmetics, cosmetic products of unknown origin
✘ Cosmetics with incomplete information and labelling

The outer packaging or containers of cosmetics shall conspicuously label the following information:
1. Product name
2. Function
3. Usage and storage instructions
4. Net weight, volume, or amount
5. Full ingredient names. For specific purpose cosmetics, the content of specific purpose ingredients contained therein shall be labeled separately
6. Precautions for use
7. Name, address, and telephone number of manufacturer or importer; country of origin of imported product
8. Manufacturing date and shelf life, or manufacturing date and expiration date, or shelf life and expiration date
9. Lot number
10. Other information required to be labeled as per public announcement of the central competent authority
The information to be labeled as specified in the preceding paragraph shall be provided in Chinese or internationally common symbols. However, the information of Subparagraph 5 may be labeled in English

✘ Cosmetics with ampoule containers
✘ Exaggerated or misrepresented advertisement of cosmetics or claim cosmetics with medical efficacy
✘ Expired cosmetic products
✘ Genital modification
✘ Bust enlargement, toning, lifting, firming services
✘ Crash diets
✘ Slimming services
✘ Any invasive procedures
✘ Alter or modify the labels, leaflets, outer packaging, or containers of cosmetics for sale
✘ Cannabidiol (CBD) should not be added to cosmetics  
✔ Body and facial whitening
✔ Eyebrow embroidery
✔ Eyelash extensions
✔ Tattoo services

*"Cosmetics" means products applied externally to the human body, teeth, or oral cavity mucous membranes, and used to moisturize hair and skin, stimulate the sense of smell, improve body odors, change appearance, or cleanse the body. However, this is not applicable to those that are regarded as drugs in accordance with other laws or regulations.

Laws & Regulations: Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act

 

14. Religious products and Supernatural products

✘ Containing animal or human remains as outlined in prohibited items point 1
✘ Products or services promoting supernatural claims and/or acts of the following nature:
       ✘ Ability to manipulate or gain control over someone else
       ✘ Betting and gambling
       ✘ Cause harm against others
       ✘ Religious products-related testimonial listings are not allowed – listing should have a purpose of selling an item/service
       ✘ Use of listing images relating to money/gambling
✔ Foresight abilities (i.e. sense and avoid danger)
✔ Fortune telling or prediction
✔ Relationship attraction
✔ Wealth attraction (i.e. windfall luck, make you rich etc.)
Products or services promoting supernatural claims and/or acts of the following nature are allowed if they do not make any definitive statements/claims (e.g. ✘ "will bring about xxx")

 

15. Offensive Materials

✘ Content that incite feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races and/or classes of the population
✘ Content that seeks to shame others and/or reveal personal information of others

 

16. Others

✘ Listings seeking to look for personal relationships
✘ Recalled items
✘ Commodities that have not completed inspection according to regulations of Ministry of Economic Affairs and fail to indicate and disclose products with permits
     ✘ Safety seats that have not completed inspection and/or fail to indicate and disclose products with permits
     ✘ Portable laser pointers that have not completed inspection procedure and/or fail to indicate and disclose products with permits
✘ Telecom products that have not completed type approval and/or fail to indicate and disclose products with permits, telecom products including but not limited to, mobile phones, wireless walkie-talkies, WiFi, Bluetooth products such as: wireless earphones, wireless speakers, wireless mouse, tablets 
✘ Sale of designated batteries that have not been confirmed by the central competent authority confirmation and do not attach labeling to designated battery Environmental Protection Administration regulations on mercury content" and the confirmation document number issued by the central competent authority.
✘ Any sale, resale or sharing of digital subscriptions and accounts for streaming services, including, but not limited to Cable TV, Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, YouTube etc.
✘ Seller account subleasing, resale, or suspected illegal use or fraudulent activities
✘ Services relating to the receiving and/or sending of OTPs (one-time passwords)
✘ Content that exaggerates beneficial/health effects of a product
✘ Content that misleads or misrepresents a product
✘ Content, book or product that guide or encourage suicide
✘ Taxable invoice
✘ Domestic or foreign government-issued identifications, licenses, car plates
✘ Resale or encashment of government-issued consumption vouchers
✘ Designated garbage bags, designated garbage bags vouchers
✘ Listings promoting Multi-Level-Marketing programs, Get-Rich-Quick schemes, Investment schemes, Pyramid selling schemes, Fast cash schemes, Commission-only schemes, gambling 
✘ Items or listings that promote, support or seek to engage users in illegal activities
✘ Items or articles belonging to or relating to any triad society
✘ False or misleading advertisement
✘ Any listing or item that violates any applicable law and/or regulation or which Carousell determines is inappropriate for sale through the services provided by Carousell
✘ Manufacturing, using, or selling counterfeit license plates
✘ Sale of self-driving device

Laws & Regulations: Criminal Code of the Republic of China, Civil Code, The Commodity Inspection Act, Telecommunications Management Act, Suicide Prevention Act, Charge of Garbage Collection and Treatment Regulations, Fair Trade Act, Waste Disposal Act: Article 21 (other reference: 限制乾電池製造、輸入及販賣). 

Other reference: TW FDA medicine, medical devices, food and cosmetics regulations.(衛生福利部藥品、醫療器材、化粧品或食品之衛生法令限制銷售或宣傳事項) 

 

Carousell reserves the rights to update this guideline from time to time where necessary. Please visit this page regularly to stay informed.