Pesticide Control and Related Information

Application for Pesticide Import/Export Licence
(Trade & Industry Dept. Form 3/Form 6)

IMPORT AND EXPORT OF PESTICIDES

Registered pesticides may only be imported by a holder of a Pesticides Licence, and scheduled pesticides or any other unregistered pesticides may only be imported or possessed by a holder of a Pesticides Permit issued in respect of pesticide specified therein. In addition, each shipment of registered pesticides, scheduled pesticides or any other unregistered pesticides entering / leaving Hong Kong must also be covered by an Import / Export Licence issued under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). All Import / Export Licences, with the exception of those covering methyl bromide, are issued by AFCD under delegation from the Trade and Industry Department. Import / Export Licence for methyl bromide are issued directly by the Director-General of Trade and Industry.

EXEMPTIONS

Pesticides in transit (which remain in the ship / aircraft on which they are imported) are exempted from the control of the Ordinance and the Import / Export Licence under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). Pesticides which are not scheduled pesticide and are transshipped in Hong Kong on a valid through bill of lading are also exempted from the control of the Ordinance but an Import / Export Licence under Cap. 60 is required.  However, scheduled pesticides (except air transshipment cargo) are subject to control of the Ordinance and a Pesticide Permit is required for their import, export and transshipment unless they are packed in individual containers not exceeding 10g or 10 mL and are used for laboratory research, chemical analysis or as a reference standard. This exemption however does not apply to the import and export control of scheduled pesticides and a Cap.60 licence is required irrespective of the size of the package. Import / export licencing requirements under Cap. 60 for air-to-air transshipment of all pesticides on a valid through air waybill have been waived since May 2000. 

LOCATION FOR PURCHASE OF IMPORT / EXPORT LICENCE

Import Licence Form 3 (TRA187) and Export Licence Form 6 (TRA394) are available for sale at the Trade & Industry Department, Shroff and Form Sales Counter, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City.

Note: With effect from 1 September 2007, this department will only accept 2007 revised version of Import Licence Form 3 and Export Licence Form 6.

APPLICATION FOR IMPORT / EXPORT LICENCE

According to the application guideline “How to complete Import / Export Licence for Pesticides (pdf format)”, complete the Import Licence Form 3 (TRA187) / Export Licence Form 6 (TRA394) in triplicate and lodge it to the Plant and Pesticides Regulatory Division (Counter No. 4) at 5/F., Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

The processing time for each Import / Export Licence applying through counter (in person) is about 15 minutes (except the application for retrospective Import / Export Licence) and the application is free of charge.

AMENDMENT OF IMPORT/EXPORT LICENCE AFTER ISSUED

Importers/exporters can apply for amendments of issued Import / Export Licence by writing to this Department. The letter should state the concerned Import / Export Licence number, item(s) to be amended with reason(s), and a company chop should be stamped thereon. Applicant should also provide the following documents:

(i)  the Original and Duplicate copy of the Import / Export Licence;

(ii)  copies of bill of lading / air waybill / through bill of lading, invoice and/or packing list to support the corresponding amendment(s).

Please note that the receipt of application by this Department does not imply automatic approval of the amendment of licence.

CANCELLATION OF IMPORT/EXPORT LICENCE AFTER ISSUED

Importers/exporters can apply for cancellation of issued Import / Export Licence by writing to this Department, together with the original and duplicate copy of the unused licence returned. Reasons should be given to this Department in case of the original and duplicate copy of licence are not returned.

If the goods are not imported / exported after the validity period of the Import / Export Licence, the invalid copies of the expired licence should be returned to this Department for cancellation.

APPLICATION FOR RETROSPECTIVE ISSUE OF IMPORT/EXPORT LICENCE

Importers/exporters can apply for retrospective issue of Import / Export Licence by writing to this Department together with the following information and documents:

(i)  a letter explaining why the retrospective application is made and, for imported goods, whether the importer has taken delivery of the goods;

(ii)  Import / Export Licence complete in triplicate, state the exact date of arrival/departure of goods and vehicle/ vessel/ flight number in relevant spaces of the licence;

(iii)  photocopies of the relevant shipping documents, i.e. bill of lading (transported by sea), air waybill (transported by air), manifest (transported by road) or through bill of lading (for transhipment) and

(iv)  other relevant supporting documents, such as invoice, packing list, letter from the relevant carrier.

Traders should note that the receipt of application by this Department does not imply automatic approval of the licences in retrospect. The retrospective issue of licences is for the sole purpose of facilitating consignment handling and/or trade data capturing. The retrospective granting of a licence shall not constitute a defence in any proceedings under the Import and Export Ordinance.

ONLINE APPLICATION THROUGH THE TRADE SINGLE WINDOW

Apart from applying through counter (in person), importers/exporters can choose to submit the application for Import / Export Licence (including combined application for transhipment of pesticides) through the Trade Single Window (TSW).

The processing time for each Import / Export Licence applying through TSW is one working day (except the application for retrospective Import / Export Licence) and the application is free of charge.

ENQUIRIES