On December 29, 2025, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) published the draft “Handling Regulation for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Foods” and opened a public consultation to collect feedback. The draft regulation aims to reduce PFAS exposure risk by monitoring levels of these substances in food and setting strict maximum limits for key PFAS substances in higher-risk food categories.
Key Takeaways
The draft regulation prioritizes PFAS substances with clear international dietary risk assessments, focusing on food categories with higher contamination risks. It establishes maximum allowable levels, defines administrative actions for exceedances, and outlines notification, disposal, and public communication procedures. The public is invited to submit feedback within 60 days after publication.
What the Draft Regulation Covers
- PFAS are a large group of fluorinated chemicals, with more than 10,000 substances identified internationally, according to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
- The regulation focuses on PFAS substances with clear international risk assessments and on food categories considered to be at higher risk.
- Food exceeding the specified PFAS limits will be treated as containing harmful substances under Taiwan’s Food Safety and Sanitation Act.
- Administrative actions include notification, disposal, and risk communication.
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Public Consultation Details
- Publication date: December 29, 2025
- Maintained date: December 29, 2025
- Publishing unit: Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Feedback deadline: 60 days from the date of publication of the announcement
How to submit opinions or inquiries
- Responsible agency: Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Address: No. 109, Lane 130, Section 1, Academia Road, Nangang District, Taipei City
- Contact person: Ms. Hsu
- Phone: +886-2-2787-8000 ext. 7317
- Email: katty@fda.gov.tw
Enforcement and Administrative Actions
Where PFAS levels exceed the specified limits, the draft regulation requires the following measures:
1. Notification and Handling Process
- Any party discovering PFAS exceedance must promptly notify the central health authority.
- Reporting should follow the “Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Environment Joint Food Safety Notification and Response Process” to support coordinated action.
2. Product Disposal Measures
- Food exceeding PFAS limits must be seized and destroyed in accordance with Article 52, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Act.
- Local health authorities may seal potentially contaminated products based on Article 41, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 4. If later investigations confirm that there is no contamination risk, the products may be released.
3. Public Risk Communication
- If a case affects consumer rights or food safety, the government must issue a public notice and provide risk assessment information.
- This ensures that consumers can identify safety concerns and understand the potential health impacts.
Annex: PFAS Limits by Food Category
The draft regulation lists maximum levels for the following four PFAS substances in various foods:
- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
- Total sum of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS
The limits differ by food category, such as:
- Livestock meat and edible organs
- Wild game meat and organs
- Fish species (different groups)
- Crustaceans
- Bivalves
- Eggs
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