The relevant licence forms to cover the import and export of ozone depleting substances are Import Licence Form and Export Licence Form respectively.

Importers-cum-exporters can apply for a combined "Import and Export Licence" for the transhipment of ozone depleting substances via Hong Kong, that is a transhipment cargo covered by a through bill of lading.

Please click here for some frequently asked questions on the "Import and Export Licence".

Licence applicants should read carefully the conditions of issue set out at the back of the licence forms before completing the forms and ensure that these conditions are fully complied with.

Import / Export / Import and Export Licence covering ozone depleting substances are issued only to traders registered under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.

Import of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for local consumption will be debited against either valid import quota held by the importer or available free quota.

Electronic Application

Applicant can apply for licences for ozone depleting substances through the Trade Single Window.

Paper Application

1. Applicant can buy licence application forms from the Shroff and Form Sales Counter at Room 1309, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong.
2. Applicant should complete a licence application according to the following specimens and lodge it to the Rough Diamonds and Ozone Depleting Substances Licensing Unit of the Trade and Industry Department at Room 1604, 16/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong.

Methyl bromide is also subject to licensing arrangement for pesticide. Licence applications on Form 3 and Form 6 as appropriate should be lodged together with the applications under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.

Please click here for specimen of the Import Licence Form and guidance notes on how to complete the form.

Please click here for the specimen of the Export Licence Form and guidance notes on how to complete the form.

An import licence application covering the import of ozone depleting substance for re-export has to be lodged together with the relevant export licence application, an undertaking form, and supported by a bill of lading or other shipping documents to prove that the consignment is intended for re-exportation in full within the validity period of the export licence.

An Import and Export Licence covering the transhipment of ozone depleting substance via Hong Kong must be supported by a through bill of lading.

Import / Export / Import and Export Licence covering ozone depleting substances are valid for 60 days from the date of issue.

Amendment of an Import / Export / Import and Export Licence Application

1. No erasure or correction fluid should be used on licence applications.
2. Typing errors should be clearly and tidily crossed out either by hand or by typing "XXX" over them.
3. Every amendment should be endorsed by initialing with date and stamping the applicant company's small amendment chop against it.
4. All amendments made must be clear and legible, and must not deface any other particulars on the application.
5. No more than three amendment chops are allowed for each application.

Amendment of an Import / Export / Import and Export Licence after Issue

Any amendments of an approved licence could only be made by the Trade and Industry Department upon receipt of written applications for amendments by the importers/exporters concerned.

Request for amendment of an approved Import / Export / Import and Export Licence should be made in the form of a letter, with the triplicate copy (for licence with shipment effected) or both the duplicate and triplicate copies (for licence with shipment not yet effected) returned.

Applicant should provide copies of bill of lading / air waybill / through bill of lading / through air waybill, invoice and packing list to support the amendment of relevant particulars.

Applications for amendment of Import / Export / Import and Export Licence covering ozone depleting substances are free of charge.

Request for cancellation of an approved Import / Export / Import and Export Licence should be made in the form of a letter, with both the duplicate and triplicate copies of the unused licence returned. Reasons should be given in case any of the licence copies are not returned.

Applications for cancellation of Import / Export / Import and Export Licence covering ozone depleting substances are free of charge.

Procedures and Supporting Documents

Belated licence applications may be accepted only if the applicant can provide the following supporting documents:

• a letter explaining why the retrospective application is made and, for imported goods, whether the importer has taken delivery of the goods;
• a fresh set of completed Import Licence Form, Export Licence Form or Import and Export Licence Form in respect of the consignment under application (exact date of arrival and vehicle / vessel / flight number should be shown in the relevant boxes);
• photocopies of the relevant shipping documents, i.e. bill of lading (if imported by sea), air waybill (if imported by air), manifest (if imported by land) or through bill of lading (if transhipment);
• other relevant supporting documents, such as invoice, packing list, letter from the relevant carrier; and
• in case of shipment after the expiry of the validity of an approved licence, the unused copies of the expired licence should be returned for cancellation.

Warning

Traders should note that lodgement of retrospective applications for Import / Export / Import and Export Licence covering ozone depleting substances does not imply automatic approval of the licences. The issue of retrospective licences is for the sole purpose of facilitating consignment handling and/or trade data capturing and the granting of a retrospective licence shall not constitute a defence in any proceedings under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance or preclude any administrative action which may be taken by the Director of Environmental Protection.

Import and export of ozone depleting substance fulfilling the definition of "air transhipment cargo" in Section 2 of the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance are exempted from licensing requirement.