1 Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of  
Live Crustaceans and Molluscs  
 (Draft amend ments ) 
(In case of any discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese text of these Requirements , the Chinese text shall govern.)  
1. The scope of species and pertinent diseases of concern of  crustaceans and molluscs  to which 
these Requirements apply is shown in the attached Tables  1 and 2. 
The applicant shall apply for an import permit from  a central competent authority if the species 
of live crustaceans and molluscs are referred to Article 24 of Wildlife Conservation Act as 
protected wildlife or Article  27 as wildlife which are not domestic  species . 
The importation of l ive crustaceans and mollus cs for human consumption shall comply with 
Article 11 of A ct Governing Food Sanitation . 
2. Sample collection, testing and surveillance as referred to in these Requirements must be 
conducted in accordance with relevant provisions in the Manual  of Diagnostic Tests for Aqua tic 
Animals of the World Organi sation for Animal Health (hereinafter referred to as the OIE 
Aquatic Manual). For diseases with no sampling, testing or surveillance methods prescribed in 
the OIE Aquatic Manual, methods that have  been published in international scientific journals 
are to be used . 
Disease incubat ion period s referred to in these Requirements are those specified in the OIE 
Aquatic Manual or the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE (hereinafter referred to as the OIE 
Aquatic Code). For diseases with incubation periods not specified in the OIE Aquat ic Manual or 
OIE Aquatic Code, incubation periods stated in articles published in international scientific journals 
shall apply. If no such information can be found either in the OIE Aquatic Manual, OIE Aquatic 
Code or international scientific journals, the incubation period  will be 30 days.  
3. The importation of live crustaceans and molluscs  listed in T ables 1 and 2 for aquaculture or 
rearing purpose shall comply with the following conditions:  
(1) The animal s must be kept for at least fourteen days prior to exportation at a wate r area or an 
aquaculture facility which is  under the supervision of the exporting country’s government. 
Within a period of three months prior to the exportation, there must be no incidents of high 
mortality occuring in that specific species of  crustaceans or mollus cs which are caused by  
communicable diseases or  unknown etiology in the water area or aquaculture facility of 
origin.   2 (2) The consignments shall meet one of the following conditions:  
I. The pertinent diseases of concern listed in the attached Table 1 or 2 are notifiable diseases 
in the exporting country. Basic biosecurity measures have been implemented at the water 
area or aquaculture facility of origin for at least the previous two years; or  
II. Within a period of thirty days immediately preceding the export ation, samples are collected 
from the water area or aquaculture facility of origin for testing by a laboratory designated by 
the exporting country’s government for the pertinent diseases of concern listed in the 
attached Table 1 or 2 . The results must be n egative.  
(3) Three Within s even days prior to its leaving from the water area or aquaculture facility of 
origin, the animal  must be inspected and found healthy and be free from infestation of 
ectoparasites or any clinical signs of communicable diseases.  
Basic biosecurity measures referred to in Section 2 of the preceding paragraph are defined as 
follows:  
(1) The water area or aquaculture fac ility of origin has been subjected to an official health 
surveillance scheme conducted by a laboratory designated by the exporting country’s 
government. According to the surveillance results, the pertinent diseases of concern listed in 
the attached T able 1 or 2 have not occurred for a minimum period of two consecutive years 
in the water area or aquaculture facility of origin; and  
(2) The water area or aquaculture facility of origin must only introduce aquatic broodstock from 
areas free from the pertinent diseases of concern listed in the attached T able 1 or 2 , or from 
water area s or aquaculture facilities where basic biosecurity measures have been 
implemented.  
4. The importation of live crustaceans and molluscs  for human consumption must comply with one 
of the following conditions:  
(1) The pertinent diseases of concern listed in the attached T able 1 or 2 are notifiable diseases in 
the exporting country. The water area or aquaculture facility of origin has be en subjected to 
an official health surveillance scheme conducted by a laboratory designated by the exporting 
country’s government. According to the surveillance results, the pertinent diseases of 
concern listed in the attached T able 1 or 2 have not occurre d for a minimum of two 
consecutive years in the water area or aquaculture facility of origin; or  
(2) Within a period of thirty days immediately preceding the exportation, samples are collected 
from the water area or aquaculture facility of origin for testing by a laboratory designated by  3 the exporting country’s government for the pertinent diseases of concern listed in the 
attached Table 1 or 2. The results must be negative.  
5. The packaging, transportation and disinfection of the live crustaceans and mollu scs must comply 
with relevant provisions in the OIE Aquatic Code.  
6. Live  crustaceans and mollus cs (except for those complying with Article 7) to be imported into 
Taiwan must be accompanied by an  original health certificate issued by the exporting country’s 
competent authority. The certificate must specify the following information in English: 
(1) Anim al species and origin  
I. Species: Scientific names  and common name . 
II. Name and address of the water area or aquaculture facility of origin.  
III. Age or development stage.  
IV. Quantity and total weight.  
V . Name of the exporting country.  
VI. Name and addre ss of the exporter.  
VII. Name of the  exporting country’s competent authority . 
(2) Destination  
I. Country of the destination. 
II. Name and address of the importer.  
(3) Result s of quarantine  inspection 
I. For consignments for aquaculture or rearing purposes, explicit confirmation of compliance 
with Article 3 and specify ing one of the following information:  
(I) Name of the diseases under official surveillance in accordance with Article 3; or  
(II) Name of the diseases tested within 30 days prior to export, and the sample collection 
date, number of samples collected, name o f the testing laboratory, test methods and the 
test results.  
II. For consignments for human consumption, explicit confirmation of compliance with 
Article 4 and specifying one of the following information:  
(I) Name of the diseases under official surveillanc e in accordance with Article 4; or  
(II) Name of the diseases tested within 30 days prior to export, and the sample collection 
date, number of samples collected, name of the testing laboratory, test methods and the 
test results.  
III. The importation of l ive crustaceans and mollus cs for human consumption shall attest that 
the consignment have complied with the Article 11 of A ct Governing Food Sanitation . 
(4) Date and place the certificate is issued, name and official stamp of the issuing authority, and 
name and signature of the certifying officer.   4 6. The format of the  veterinary certificate  may be drawn up in reference to the model health 
certificate for international trade in l ive aquatic animals and gametes of the OIE Aquatic Animal 
Health Code.  
7. To import live crustaceans and mollus cs which have been granted importing approval by the 
fishery authority of Taiwan as part of its national genetic renewal project or for specific research 
purposes, but fails to provide an original health certificate in accordance with Article 6, the 
consignments must be detained in a post -entry quarantine facility designated by the animal 
quarantine authority of Taiwan until all the following conditions have been complied with:  
(1) The quarantine period must be or longer than three times of the longest incubation period  
among the pert inent diseases of concern listed in the attached Table 1 or 2 (hereinafter 
referred to as the longest incubation period );  
(2) During the post -entry quarantine, samples must be collected twice consecutively, with at least 
the longest incubation period  apart, for testing of the pertinent diseases of concern listed in the 
attached Table 1 or 2; the results must be negative;  
(3) During the post -entry quarantine period, the animals must be identified individually under the 
instructions of the animal quarantine authority of Taiwan; and  
(4) During the post -entry quarantine period, only the imported consignments, their offspring and  
sentinel animals  approved by the animal quarantine authority of Taiwan are allowed to be kept 
in the designated quarantine area of the post -entry quarantine facility. Personnel without the 
permission of the animal quarantine authority of Taiwan are restricted from access to the 
design ated quarantine facility.  
The designated post -entry quarantine facility as referred to in the preceding paragraph must 
comply with all of the following conditions. The equipment and operation must be inspecte d by 
the animal quarantine authority of Taiwan to confirm it is in compliance with the biosecurity 
principles.  
(1) The post -entry quarantine facility must be so constructed to be able to prevent the entry of 
crustaceans, mollus cs, or animals belonging to Phylum Chordata from outside and the  escape 
or flowing out of live crustaceans or  mollus cs from inside;  
(2) Monitoring system must be installed to cover each ent rance and exit. Electronic locks must be 
used to control the entrance and exit of personnel. The post -entry quarantine facility must be 
equipped with an independent water system with filtration mechanism for incoming water 
supply and disinfection mechanism  for the drainage water; and  
(3) If the animals  are dispensed in separate pools, water of the pools must be effectively 
segregated from each other. Any exchange or contamination of water between/among pools 
will render them as one pool. Appliances must be confined to be used in only one pool to  5 avoid cross contamination. Any exchange or joint use of appliances between/among pools 
will also render them as one pool.  
In addition to complying with Article 2, sample collection and testing mentioned in the 
preceding paragraph must also comply with the following conditions:  
(1) Consecutive sample collections must  be conducted with at least the longest disease incubation 
period  apart. For each sample collection in every consignment, at least thirty animals must be 
sampled for testing. For consignments with less than 30 anima ls, all animals must be sampled ; 
(2) If sentinel animals  are used for testing, samples must be collected after th e sentinel animals  
have been kept in the same water system with the imported  animal s for a period that is at least 
one longest incubation period . The sample size for sentinel animals  must be no less than the 
sample size designated for that specific consignment.  
When tested positive of the pertinent diseases of concern listed in the attached Table 1 or 2 , all 
animals  kept in the same water system must be rejected or culled.  
 
 
 Attach ed Table 1  
Species and pertinent diseases of concern for the importation of l ive crustaceans  subject ed to 
quarantine inspection 
 (Not amend ed) 
 
  
 
Attach ed Table 2  
Species and pertinent diseases of concern for the importation of l ive mollus cs subject ed to 
quarantine inspection 
(Not amend ed)