Safety and Regulations for Imported Machinery: What to Watch for When Buying Food Machinery From Abroad

Check the Power First: Voltage, Phases, Frequency

The most common pitfall with imported machines is the power supply. Taiwan's mains frequency is 60Hz; eastern Japan, Europe, and mainland China are mostly 50Hz. The same machine's motor runs about 20% faster at 60Hz than at 50Hz (synchronous speed is proportional to frequency). Without an inverter or adjustments, output, discharge rhythm, and heating power may differ from the manufacturer's specifications, and the motor's temperature rise may change too.

Voltage and phases must also match:

• In Taiwan, general premises commonly have single-phase 110V and single-phase 220V; factories commonly have three-phase 220V or three-phase 380V.
• Foreign machines are often 200V, 230V, 400V, 415V, and so on. Before importing, confirm whether transformers are needed and whether the phases match the site's supply.

Taiwan-made machines have the same issue in the opposite direction: for example, Dong-Yih's Sweet Potato Ball & Taro Ball Portioning Machine DY-528MS is standard single-phase 220V, 1.6KW, and three-phase 380/415/440V requires a special order; when exporting, the destination's power supply must be clarified first.

What Needs to Be Inspected When Importing

Depending on the type of machine, the Taiwanese regulations that may apply are:

1. Occupational Safety and Health Act:
   • Article 5, Paragraph 2: Importers of machinery must carry out a risk assessment at the import stage and strive to prevent occupational accidents during use. This applies to all machinery, not only designated items.
   • Articles 7 and 8: If the machine is designated by the Ministry of Labor (for example, power presses and shears, grinding machines, powered forklifts), the importer must complete safety information registration and affix the safety mark, or obtain type verification. At the time of writing, food processing machinery isn't on the designated list in Article 12 of the Enforcement Rules; see Does Food Machinery Need Type Verification or the TS Safety Mark?
2. Commodity Inspection Act: If the tariff code has been designated by the BSMI as a commodity subject to inspection, the importer is the party obligated to apply for inspection, and the goods may not be imported without meeting inspection requirements; whether it's listed must be checked by tariff code, see BSMI Commodity Inspection.
3. Customs: Declare under the tariff code of the Ministry of Finance's Customs Administration; the import regulations field for the code shows whether there are inspection or other requirements. For used machines or machines from certain sources, also check the relevant import rules.
4. Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation: Food-contact parts are food utensils and must meet the Sanitation Standard for Food Utensils, Containers and Packaging when in use; see Are Machine Contact Parts Food Utensils?

Safety and Hygiene Checklist

Before and after the machine arrives at the plant, confirm the following item by item:

• Safety devices: Are the emergency stop, cover interlocks, and drive guards all present? Does the safety configuration the manufacturer designed for other markets meet the requirements of Taiwan's Occupational Safety and Health Facilities Regulations?
• Electrical: Are the ground terminal, residual current protection, and electrical cabinet waterproof rating suitable for a wet food plant?
• Contact surface materials: Ask the manufacturer for material descriptions and test documents.
• Manual and labels: Is there a Chinese manual, and can the warning labels be understood? Article 11 of the Commodity Labeling Act (商品標示法) requires that labeling of products sold in Taiwan be primarily in Chinese; see Machine Manuals and Warning Labels.
• Cleaning method: The manufacturer's recommended cleaning agents and disassembly and washing steps.

Think About "Afterward" Before You Buy

• Parts: Can wear parts (seal rings, scrapers, belts, sensors) be bought in Taiwan? What's the lead time?
• Repairs: Is there anyone in Taiwan who can repair it? What does it cost, and how long does it take, for the manufacturer's engineer to come to Taiwan?
• Recipes: The manufacturer demonstrates with local ingredients; with Taiwanese flour and fillings, forming results may differ. If possible, bring your own ingredients for a test run.

FAQ

Q: What should I watch for when buying a machine from abroad?
A: First confirm that voltage, phases, and frequency match Taiwan's 60Hz supply, then check whether it's designated machinery under the OSH Act or a commodity listed for BSMI inspection, and check the safety devices, contact surface materials, Chinese manual, and sources of parts and repairs.

Q: Can a 50Hz machine be used in Taiwan?
A: It depends on the design. Taiwan is 60Hz, and motors run about 20% faster than at 50Hz; without an inverter or adjustments, output and operating behavior may differ from the manufacturer's specifications, so confirm with the manufacturer before buying.

Q: What inspections are needed for imported food machinery?
A: Under Article 5 of the OSH Act, importers must carry out a risk assessment at the import stage; only machinery designated by the Ministry of Labor requires registration or type verification; only tariff codes listed by the BSMI require commodity inspection. Food-contact parts must meet the Sanitation Standard for Food Utensils, Containers and Packaging.

Q: Can Dong-Yih machines be made for three-phase power?
A: The DY-528MS is standard single-phase 220V, 1.6KW, and three-phase 380/415/440V requires a special order. For details, please call 06-257-4644.