Approved by the 2,331st session of the Executive Yuan on May 13, 1993

Executive Yuan document Tai (82) Mi-zih No. 15992

Co-signed and seperately enacted on May 24, 1993, by Judicial Yuan (82) document Yuan-tai-ting-si-san-zih No. 09181

May 24, 1993, Examination Yuan document (82) Kao-tai-mi-yi-zih No. 1666, 

The Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, together with the Chinese Association of Notaries Public, having held a discussion on matters concerning use and verification of certificates of authentication across the Taiwan Straits, reached the following agreements:

1. Liaison Subjects
   1. As regards matters concerning the transmittance of duplicates of certificates of authentication and the verification thereof, both parties will contact each other respectively through the Straits Exchange Foundation and the Chinese Association of Notaries Public or the association s of notaries public of relevant Provinces, Autonomies, or Special Cities.
      
   2. As regards other related matters of this Agreement, contacts are made by the Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.
      
      
2. Transmittance of Duplicates of Certificates of Authentication
   1. Both parties agree to transmit to each other duplicates of certificates of authentication concerning succession, adoption, marriage, birth, death, mandate, educational background, residence, relatives under maintenance, and evidence of property rights.
   2. (2) Both parties may, according to the need for the use of certificates of authentication, hold further discussions to increase or decrease the kinds of duplicates of certificates of authentication which will be transmitted.
      
      
3. Verification of Certificates of Authentication
   1. Grounds for Verification
      If a certificate of authentication falls within any of the following circumstances, both parties shall assist each other in verification:
      1. If it violated the rules concerning jurisdiction of the organ of authentication;
      2. If one and the same matter was authenticated at different organs of authentication;
      3. If the contents of a certificate of authentication do not agree with the household registration data or other data on file;
      4. If the contents of certificate of authentication contradict each other;
      5. If the words, characters, or seals of a certificate of authentication are illegible or there are such suspicious traces as erasures and alteration;
      6. If other different evidence or data exit; and
      7. If there are any other matters that need to be clarified.
   2. Grounds for Refusal
      If clear grounds for verification are not stated or other verifying seals have been affixed to the certificate of authentication, the party from whom a verification is requested may refuse the verification with reasons.
   3. Time Limit for Reply
      The party from whom a verification is requested shall reply within thirty days from the date of receiving the letter requesting the verification.
   4. Verification Fees
      The party who requests a verification shall pay an adequate fee to the party from whom the verification is requested. Standard of verification fees and ways of payment will be settled on through further discussions by both parties.
      
      
4. Forms of Documents
   When transmitting duplicates of certificates of authentication, requesting verifications, or making replies, appropriate forms of documents shall be used after discussion by both parties.
   
   
5. Other Documents
   Both parties agree to hold separate discussions on matters concerning verification of documents other than certificates of authentication and render assistance thereon.
   
   
6. Performance, Alteration, and Termination of Agreements
   Both parties shall comply with agreements. Performance, alteration, or termination of an agreement shall be made with the consent of both parties through discussion.
   
   
7. Resolution of Controversies
   Both parties shall hold discussions as soon as possible to resolve the controversies arising from the application of this Agreement.
   
   
8. Unsettled Matters
   If any unsettled matters of this Agreement exist, both parties may, by means of appropriate ways, hold further discussions to settle them.
   
   
9. Signing and Commencement of Effect
   This Agreement will come into effect and of operation thirty days from the date of signing by both parties.
   This Agreement was signed on the twenty-ninth day of April (of the year 1993) in four copies and both parties will each hold two copies.
   
   (Signed)
   
   Koo Chen-fu, Chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation
   Wang Daohan, Chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
   
   Cheyne Chiu
   Tang Shubei
   
   April 29, 1993

Notes: 

1. Regarding the increase in the types of mailed copies of certificates of authentication (confirmed through exchange of letters by Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation [SEF] and mainland China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits [ARATS] and enacted on February 1, 1995): The SEF, ARATS, and China Notaries' Association agreed, according to Article 2 of the "Agreement on the Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits," to add four types of mailed certificate of authentication copies, including tax records, medical records, work experience and professional certifications. 
   
   
2. Since June 1997, the scope of mailed copies of cross-strait certificates of authentication has been increased to include product licensing and free sale certificates for pesticides, animal medicines, feed and feed additives, fertilizers, drugs for human use, medical equipment, general cosmetics (eyeliner and mascara), cosmetics with medicinal components, food additives, aquatic products, tablet or capsule food, special nutrient foods, and environmental sanitation drugs, as well as letters of attorney, manufacturer information, labeling and instructions, certification of vibrio cholera-free aquatic products, proof of sterilization, certification of ingredients, and product testing certificates.