Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (HCCO) (Cap. 595) regulates, through a permit system, the import, export, manufacture and use of non-pesticide hazardous chemicals that have potentially harmful or adverse effects on human health or the environment. Except under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), a person shall not manufacture, export, import or use any scheduled chemical. In addition, for every shipment of scheduled chemical(s) entering or leaving Hong Kong, an import or export licence is also required under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60) (IEO), to be issued by EPD under delegation from the Trade and Industry Department.
What hazardous chemicals are subject to control?
How many types of permits are available?
Who should apply for HCCO permits?
Guidelines for completing the permit application forms
Guidelines for completing an import/export licence under the IEO
What hazardous chemicals are subject to control?
Scheduled chemicals controlled under the HCCO include Type 1 and Type 2 chemicals listed below:
| Chemical Name [Note 1] | CAS No. | |
|---|---|---|
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| 1. Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) | 36355-01-8 | |
| 2. Hexabromodiphenyl ether (hexaBDE) and heptabromodiphenyl ether (heptaBDE) | ||
| (a) 2,2',4,4',5,5'- hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153) | 68631-49-2 | |
| (b) 2,2',4,4',5,6'- hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-154) | 207122-15-4 | |
| (c) 2,2',3,3',4,5',6- heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-175) | 446255-22-7 | |
| (d) 2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-183) | 207122-16-5 | |
| (e) Other hexa- and heptabromodiphenyl ethers present in commercial octabromodiphenyl ether |
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| 3. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) | 118-74-1 | |
| 4. Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) | 608-93-5 | |
| 5. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) | 1336-36-3 | |
| 6. Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (tetraBDE) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) | ||
| (a) 2,2',4,4'- tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) | 5436-43-1 | |
| (b) 2,2',4,4',5- pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99) | 60348-60-9 | |
| (c) Other tetra- and pentabromodiphenyl ether present in commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether |
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| 7. Hexabromocyclododecane | ||
| (a) Hexabromocyclododecane | 25637-99-4 | |
| (b) 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane and its main diastereoisomers | 3194-55-6 | |
| 8. Hexachlorobutadiene | 87-68-3 | |
| 9. Polychlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (a) Dichlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (b) Trichlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (c) Tetrachlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (d) Pentachlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (e) Hexachlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (f) Heptachlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| (g) Octachlorinated naphthalenes | ||
| 10. Decabromodiphenyl ether | 1163-19-5 | |
| 11. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (Alkanes, C10-13, chloro): straight-chain chlorinated hydrocarbons with chain lengths ranging from C10 to C13 and a content of chlorine greater than 48% by weight | ||
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| 1. Asbestos: [Note 2] | ||
| (a) Actinolite | 77536-66-4 | |
| (b) Anthophyllite | 77536-67-5 | |
| (c) Amosite | 12172-73-5 | |
| (d) Crocidolite | 12001-28-4 | |
| (e) Tremolite | 77536-68-6 | |
| 2. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) | ||
| (a) Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) | 1763-23-1 | |
| (b) Salts of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid | ||
| (c) Perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) | 307-35-7 | |
| 3. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) | ||
| (a) Octabromobiphenyl | 27858-07-7 | |
| (b) Decabromobiphenyl | 13654-09-6 | |
| 4. Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT) | 61788-33-8 | |
| 5. (Repealed) | ||
| 6. Tetraethyl Lead | 78-00-2 | |
| 7. Tetramethyl Lead | 75-74-1 | |
| 8. Tributyltin compounds | ||
| (a) Tributyltin oxide | 56-35-9 | |
| (b) Tributyltin fluoride | 1983-10-4 | |
| (c) Tributyltin methacrylate | 2155-70-6 | |
| (d) Tributyltin benzoate | 4342-36-3 | |
| (e) Tributyltin chloride | 1461-22-9 | |
| (f) Tributyltin linoleate | 24124-25-2 | |
| (g) Tributyltin naphthenate | 85409-17-2 | |
| 9. Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate | 126-72-7 | |
| 10. Perfluorooctanoic acid, its salts and related compounds | ||
| (a) Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 335-67-1 | |
| (b) Salts of perfluorooctanoic acid | ||
| (c) Related compounds of perfluorooctanoic acid | ||
[Note 1] Please note that the above chemicals may have different names (eg trade name or chemical group name) given by the manufacturers and sellers.
[Note 2]: The Air Pollution Control Ordinance, Cap. 311 (APCO) has banned the import, transhipment, supply and use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos containing materials except goods in transit and registered proprietary Chinese medicine. Exemption may be granted under certain circumstances. If the applicant wishes to use, import or tranship asbestos, he must obtain the EPD’s exemption issued under the APCO prior to applying for a HCCO permit. Please see http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/guide_ref/Banning_asbestos.html for further information.
How many types of permits are available?
There are five types of permits, including:
- Import Permit
- Export Permit
- Import and Export Permits Issued for Transhipment and Transit
- Manufacture Permit
- Use Permit
Who should apply for HCCO permits?
| Capacity | Controlled Activities | Potential Parties Subject to Control |
|---|---|---|
| Importer | Importing scheduled chemical(s) into Hong Kong |
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| Exporter | Exporting scheduled chemical(s) from Hong Kong |
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| Importer & Exporter | Transhipping / transiting scheduled chemical(s) through Hong Kong |
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| Manufacturer | Manufacturing scheduled chemical(s) in Hong Kong |
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| User | Using scheduled chemical(s) in Hong Kong |
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Guidelines for completing the permit application forms
Application forms can be downloaded here and respective application fees can be viewed here. Please download the Guidelines for completing the permit application forms for reference.
Guidelines for completing an import/export licence under the IEO
Applicants can apply for an import/export licence under the IEO electronically through the Trade Single Window (TSW). More information can be viewed at www.tradesinglewindow.hk.
Permit holders are required to report the controlled activities regularly. “Activity Report Forms” can be downloaded here.
For enquiries, please contact EPD Hazardous Chemicals Control Section at
Tel: 3107 2981
Email: hcco@epd.gov.hk