Hong Kong does not produce powdered formula and all demands for powdered formula in Hong Kong are met by imports. The powdered formula export licensing arrangement facilitates traders in Hong Kong to maintain normal export trade of powdered formula with other economies. All importers of powdered formula must be registered with the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance (Cap. 612). As such, Trade and Industry Department would, in general, only issue Export Licence to food importers holding valid registrations with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as follows:

1. registered as a food importer for powdered formula under the Food Safety Ordinance with a valid food importer registration number; or
2. exempted under section 4(3)(a) of the Food Safety Ordinance with a valid food importer registration (notice of exemption) exemption number.

Importers of powdered formula may need to have their powdered formula products tested outside Hong Kong to ensure their quality or to comply with local food legislation, etc. If the testing is to be conducted outside Hong Kong, the registered importer of the powdered formula should apply for an Export Licence before sending the powdered formula samples outside Hong Kong. Laboratory service providers/other agencies, if authorised by the registered importer of the powdered formula, may also apply for Export Licence to export the samples of powdered formula for the testing outside Hong Kong. Each Export Licence application must be supported by an authorisation letter issued by the registered importer concerned.

Laboratory service providers/other agencies can lodge applications for powdered formula Export Licences electronically via the Trade and Industry Department's (TID) website and receive the Export Licence by email, or lodge applications in paper form and obtain the Export Licence at TID in person.

Transfer/transit air passengers arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) may apply for Powdered Formula Export Licence for Transfer/Transit Air Passengers to export the powdered formula brought into Hong Kong in their accompanied personal baggage (including checked-in baggage and hand-carry baggage). Such Export Licence may only be applied by transfer/transit air passengers arriving at the HKIA from a place outside Hong Kong solely for the purpose of taking a connecting flight or ferry inside the Restricted Area of the HKIA to another place outside Hong Kong. Eligible transfer/transit air passengers should approach the Duty Office of the Customs and Excise Department inside the Restricted Area of the HKIA to apply for the Export Licences. Please refer to the Powdered Formula Licensing Circular No. 3/2013 for details about the licensing arrangement and application procedures.

Exemptions from the licensing requirements apply to the following situations:

Personal Exemptions

1. powdered formula that is exported in the accompanied personal baggage of a person aged 16 or above leaving Hong Kong who did not leave Hong Kong in the last 24 hours:
   • the formula (whether of the same composition and whether in 1 or more containers) does not exceed 1.8 kg in total net weight; or
2. in exceptional cases where the 24 hour period restriction may cause inconvenience, powdered formula that is exported by a person aged 16 or above who left Hong Kong one or more times in the last 24 hours must satisfy the following requirements:
   • who is leaving Hong Kong together with a person aged under 36 months (child); and
   • the formula is in an unsealed container and does not exceed a reasonable quantity for the child's consumption during the travelling time from a point of exit in Hong Kong to the next point of entry in a place outside Hong Kong.

Exemptions for Goods in Transit and Transhipment

1. any powdered formula in transit¹;
2. for air-to-air transhipment cargo², whereby at any time between its being brought into and taken out of Hong Kong the powdered formula has remained in the cargo transhipment area of Hong Kong International Airport; or
3. for transhipment of other modes or inter-modal transhipment, where the carrier or the forwarder handling the cargo has valid registration under the Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme (TCES) subject to compliance with the conditions of registration under the TCES.