Northwest Horticultural Council
Country Alerts
Taiwan Rejects Apple Shipment Over Carnauba Wax Statement
A shipment of U.S. apples to Taiwan was rejected last week due to the wax statement on the shipping cartons being crossed off with a permanent marker. More detail regarding the shipment rejection is not available.
According to U.S. authorities, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration does not allow the use of carnauba wax on fruits and vegetables.
The NHC is working with U.S. officials and wax manufacturers to seek a change in Taiwan’s regulations to allow the use of carnauba wax on produce.
For more information on labeling requirements, both domestic and for export, visit the NHC Fresh Fruit Labeling Manual. Exporters should check with their importers in the destination foreign market to ensure that any special labeling requirements are met prior to shipment. In particular, chemical-specific labeling or food-additive labeling on export cartons should be limited to that mandated by the government of the destination market.
The NHC’s Export Manual provides details on select countries’ labeling requirements.
11/14/2022