G/LIC/N/2/HKG/25  
 
18 December  2023 
(23-8674) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF THE AGREEMENT1 
HONG KONG, CHINA 
The following communication  dated 12 December  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Hong Kong, China.  
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Hong Kong, China  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 
1 and 2) Order 2023  
3 Date of Publication  20 October 2023  
4 Date of entry into force  20 October 2023  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/international_conventions/pop
s/new_hazardous_chemicals_2.html   
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  [X] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[ ] No. 
7 Type of notification  [ ] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure2; (please answer 
question  8 to 14)  
 
[X] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been 
previously notified in document:  G/LIC/N/2/HKG/3  and 
G/LIC/N/3/HKG/27 ; (please answer question 15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Please provide the HS codes and detailed descriptions of the 
products. In case of a long list, please attach the list as an Annex in 
MS WORD document.  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic: [ ]  
 
Non-Automatic: [ ]  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/HKG/25  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications  Ministry/authority and Department: [ ]  
Address: [ ]  
Website: [ ]  
Telephone: [ ]  
E-Mail: [ ]  
12 Contact point for information 
on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department: [ ]  
Address: [ ]  
Website: [ ]  
Telephone: [ ]  
E-Mail: [ ]  
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure   
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages    
 
 
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on  eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other:  
 
16  Please elaborate the changes 
in detail (in one of the WTO 
official languages)  From 20 October 2023, three chemicals, including 
(i) hexachlorobutadiene (HS code: 29032900), (ii) polychlorinated 
naphthalenes (HS code: 38249999) and (iii) decabromodiphenyl ether 
(HS code: 29093000), are included in Schedule 1 of the Hazardou s 
Chemicals Control Ordinance (HCCO). In addition, short -chain chlorinated 
paraffins (HS code: 38248900) that have been prescribed in Schedule  2 
of HCCO, are moved to Schedule 1 of HCCO. Furthermore, 
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and its PFOA -related compounds 
(HS code: 29159000) are added to Schedule 2 of the HCCO. The 
amendment legislation puts these hazardous chemicals under the control 
mechanism of the HCCO and helps Hong Kong implement the latest 
amendments to the Stockholm Convention on Pe rsistent Organic 
Pollutants (the Stockholm Convention) and the Rotterdam Convention on 
the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals 
and Pesticides in International Trade (the Rotterdam Convention) 
regarding the control of persistent  organic pollutants and hazardous 
chemicals. Under the HCCO, the manufacture, import, export, and use of 
regulated hazardous chemicals are subject to permit controls.  
__________