G/LIC/N/2/HKG/15  
 
26 May 2020 
(20-3821) Page: 1/3 
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 notification dated  19 May  2020, 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  Introduction of an online platform for licence application, a 
new application form and a new licence format for import 
licences for frozen/chilled meat or poultry  
 
3 Date of Publication  
 30/03/2020  
4 Date of entry into force  
 30/03/2020  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20200330_7883.html  
 
6 Have you attached a copy 
of the regulation (PDF) to 
the Secretariat  
  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)  
 
 (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been 
previously notified in document: G/LIC/N/ 3/HKG/ 23;  
(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:  
 
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 r egulation/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/15  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
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)  
 
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;  G/LIC/N/2/HKG/15  
 
- 3 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other:  Introducing an online platform for licence 
application, a new application form and a new import 
licence format.  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one 
of the WTO official 
languages)  
 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental 
Hygiene Department (CFS) rolled out the online application 
for import licence for frozen/chilled meat or poultry on 30 
March 2020.  Relevant importers may choose to submit 
applications for import lic ences to CFS through the online 
platform round -the-clock.  The turnaround time for processing 
and issuing import licences through the online platform may 
be as short as several hours, and in any case, will be less than 
one clear working day.   
 
Besides, th e Import Licence Form 3 (TRA 187) has been 
replaced by a simpler new application form (FEHB 284), and 
the format of the import licence has also been updated.  
Samples of FEHB 284 and the new import licence are available 
at: 
https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/public/public_fi/files/fehb28
4.pdf 
https://www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk/fiecs_web/images/il_sample.pdf  
 
After the rollout of the new online application service, the 
paper mode application is maintained.  Importers may 
continue to submit applications for import licences in paper 
form having regard to their operational needs, with the use 
of the new applicatio n forms.  The issue of import licence 
under paper mode application requires one clear working 
day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, dates 
of submission and issue) as is currently the case.  
 
__________