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. Any person importing, exporting, manufacturing or using a scheduled chemical must hold a valid permit for that chemical issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). In addition, for every shipment of scheduled chemical(s) entering or leaving Hong Kong, an import/export licence is also required under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), to be issued by EPD under delegation from the Trade and Industry Department.
Please note that new HCCO amendment 2018 included 2 additional chemicals, in Schedule 2 and became effective from 1 July 2018. For enquires, please contact EPD at telephone 3107 2981 or email hcco@epd.gov.hk
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?
Effective from 1 July 2018, the non-pesticide hazardous chemicals controlled under the HCCO include:
| 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 | |
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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 | |
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5. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins | 85535-84-8 |
| 6. Tetraethyl Lead | 78-00-2 | |
| 7. Tetramethyl Lead | 75-74-1 | |
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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 | |
2 new scheduled chemicals included in HCCO amendment 2018
[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. The applicant is advised to check if his activities involve scheduled chemicals under the HCCO. Please contact EPD if any questions.
[Note 2]: The Air Pollution Control Ordinance, Cap. 311 (APCO) has banned the import, transshipment, 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 transship the HCCO controlled asbestos, he must obtain the EPD’s exemption issued under the APCO prior to applying for the activity-based 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
- Transshipment and Transit Permit
- 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 | Transshipping / 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
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