The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) was restructured and established from its predecessor, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), starting on August 1, 2023.

APHIA consists of four branches which are the Keelung, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung branches. All four branches are jointly responsible for all affairs relevant to animal and plant inspection and quarantine in Taiwan.

APHIA has the following divisions: Planning, Animal Health Inspection, Plant Protection, Animal Quarantine, Plant Quarantine and Meat Inspection Divisions. All divisions work closely together to safeguard and ensure the quality and sanitation of all imported agricultural products into Taiwan. In addition, the agency is responsible for quarantine services, and prevention and control of important animal and plant diseases and pests. These measures promote the development of Taiwan’s agriculture, protect natural resources, and safeguard the health of Taiwan people.

In recent years, Taiwan has experienced significant increases in bilateral trade with other countries. This implies that there are significant increases in corresponding risks associated with foreign pest and disease intrusion. There have been outbreaks of new types of animal and plant associated pests and diseases; together with the massive increases in the international exchange of goods and flow of people, plant and animal inspection and quarantine have become extremely important. One notable animal disease outbreak was the foot and mouth disease occured in 1997 caused by illegal smuggling of animal products. This outbreak heavily impacted the swine population in Taiwan; also worth noting was the avian influenza outbreak in early 2015. Therefore, the role that APHIA plays is crucial in ensuring food safety and safeguarding agricultural products in Taiwan.

Looking into the future, APHIA is committed to maintaining the health of animals and plants and ensuring the safety of agricultural products. Therefore, all the divisions within APHIA will work closely together to ensure that all our goals and objectives are achieved.