A method for handling high-viscosity substances discharged from a production process of acrylic acid or esters thereof by gas-phase catalytic oxidation, wherein upon transporting the high-viscosity substances to a storage tank, contents of acrylic acid polymers and a polymerization inhibitor in the high-viscosity substances are controlled to not less than 40% by weight and not less than 4% by weight, respectively, and the high-viscosity substances are maintained at a temperature of not less than 110 °C.