Hazardous Chemicals Control

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

Activity Reporting

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.
 
Type 1 Chemicals
  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
 
  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
 
  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  
 
Type 2 Chemicals
  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
  • Local chemical traders
  • Universities
  • Research institutes
  • Testing laboratories
  • Carriers who assume the capacity of importer
Exporter Exporting scheduled chemical(s) from Hong Kong
  • Local chemical traders
  • Universities
  • Research institutes
  • Testing laboratories
  • Carriers who assume the capacity of exporter 
Importer & Exporter Transhipping / transiting scheduled chemical(s) through Hong Kong
  • Shipping Companies
  • Airlines
  • Air cargo terminals
  • Express or freight air transport companies
  • Carriers who assume the capacity of importer and exporter 
Manufacturer Manufacturing scheduled chemical(s) in Hong Kong
  • Local chemical manufacturers
  • Universities
  • Research institutes
  • Testing laboratories
User Using scheduled chemical(s) in Hong Kong
  • Local industries
  • Universities
  • Research institutes
  • Testing laboratories
  • PCB capacitor/transformer users

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.

Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (Cap. 595) Guidelines on Application for Permit to Import, Permit to Export and Permit to Tranship / Transit Scheduled Chemicals

Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (Cap. 595) Guidelines on Application for Permit to Manufacture Scheduled Chemicals

Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (Cap. 595) Guidelines on Application for Permit to Use Scheduled Chemicals

Guidelines for completing an import/export licence under the IEO

Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60) Guidelines for completing Application Form of Import/Export Licence for Scheduled Chemicals

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.

Activity Reporting

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