If your next trip to Taiwan is this coming January, make sure to bring your own toiletries.
Starting January 1, 2025, hotels in the island nation will no longer be allowed to provide single-use toiletries in all tourist accommodations. So, if you're planning on maximizing Taiwan's visa-free policy for Filipinos or are keen on exploring the different Taiwanese provinces and sights, here's what you need to know about this new policy for a hassle-free stay on the Land of Bubble Tea.
Taiwan's new policy on single-use toiletries
In a post on its official website, Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced that "Lodging providers shall be prohibited from offering liquid toiletry and body care products in single-use packaging with a volume of less than 180 milliliters and shall be required to provide large-bottle wall-mounted shower products instead."
Moreover, personal hygiene items such as combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving foam, and shower caps will no longer be readily displayed in guest rooms but can still be provided upon request.
Note that the policy is only for accommodations and rooms. Ancillary facilities like hotel spas and swimming pools are not subject to these restrictions and can still provide guests with small toiletries.
Additionally, the EPA stresses that the policy does not entail a complete ban on toiletry products but rather a means to achieve sustainable tourism.
Reducing disposable amenities should not compromise the quality of hotel, lodging, and Airbnb services. Once the restrictions are effective, the EPA estimates they will reduce the use of single-use hygiene products by over 460 million small containers per year. This reduction is equivalent to an annual emission reduction of 2,500 metric tons and a 30% decrease in overall plastic usage.
In a report by the Taipei Times, hotels found violating the new policy would face a fine of NT$1,200 to NT$6,000 (roughly P2,100 to P10,600), with the possibility of further penalties if no improvements are made.
To help businesses cope with the change, the Taiwanese government has moved the policy's start date from the original July 2024 target to early 2025. This gives the estimated 14,500 affected hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, and catered campsites approximately six months to use up their current inventories and adjust their supplies.
For more information, visit Taiwan in the Philippines' Facebook page.
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