Registration as Local Importers of Mainland Cereals and Grain Flour for 2024

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref.: TID TS 45/1

7 December 2023
(Updated on 2 January 2024)

Dear Sirs,

It is expected that the Mainland will continue to implement export administration measures for cereals and grain flour in 2024. This circular informs the trade of the relevant details of the Registration as Local Importers of Mainland Cereals and Grain Flour (the Registration) operated by the Trade and Industry Department (the Department).

2.Since early 2008, the Mainland has implemented administration measures for export of cereals and grain flour, including wheat flour, rice flour, and rice to Hong Kong. According to information available, it is expected that the Mainland will maintain its export quota administration for the supply of wheat flour, rice flour, and rice to Hong Kong in 2024. The Mainland will also continue to require that the relevant exports are for consumption in Hong Kong only and not for re-export.

3. To complement such export administration measures, the Department will continue to implement a registration scheme for local importers of Mainland wheat flour, rice flour, and rice. Local companies/ registered businesses intending to import the above mentioned cereals and grain flour from the Mainland (product list at Annex I) (pdf format) (updated on 2 January 2024) should apply to the Department for registration as a local importer of Mainland cereals and grain flour (Registered Importer).

4. The Mainland enterprises allocated with the export quotas of wheat flour, rice flour, and rice for supply to Hong Kong shall present the contracts signed with the Registered Importers of Hong Kong or related proofs when submitting export licences applications to the authorities in the Mainland to cover the products concerned.

5. Applicants are reminded that trading of Mainland cereals and grain flour are commercial activities. There is no guarantee that a Registered Importer will obtain any quantity of wheat flour, rice flour, and rice at any price from the Mainland enterprises.

6.In order to provide more flexibility to the trade, the registration conditions for importers of Mainland wheat flour and rice flour have been revised^(Note). Applicants for registration as a Registered Importer of Mainland wheat flour and/ or rice flour should meet the following conditions:

1. carry on a business registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310); and
2. have engaged in the import business of wheat flour and/ or rice flour any time between 2007 up to the date of application for the registration to the Department.

7. Applicants for registration as a Registered Importer of Mainland rice should meet the following conditions:

1. carry on a business registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310);
2. registered as a Rice Stockholder under the Rice Control Scheme in accordance with the Reserved Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 296); and
3. have engaged in the import business of rice any time between 2007 up to the date of application for the registration to the Department.

8.Applicants can apply for the registration electronically by submitting the duly completed electronic application form (Annex II) (pdf format) and the required supporting documents via the e-Form Submission Service in the Department's website <https://www.tid.gov.hk/en/public_services/e_services_forms.html>. Applicants can also complete and deliver the application form together with the required supporting documents by post to the Registration Unit for Local Importers of Mainland Cereals and Grain Flour of the Department on 14/F of the Trade and Industry Tower (the Tower), 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong, or in person at the Integrated Customer Service Centre in Room 1324 on 13/F of the Tower. Where necessary, the Department may request the applicants to provide additional information and supporting documents. Under normal circumstances, the Department will inform the applicants of the results of their application within 4 clear working days (excluding day of receipt and day of issue) following the receipt of the duly completed application and all necessary supporting documents. Application for registration is free of charge.

9. Upon verification by the Department, an applicant who meets the registration conditions will receive a Certificate which is valid up to 31 December 2024 to confirm its status as a Registered Importer in the category(ies) of Mainland cereals and grain flour concerned. The Register of Registered Importers will be published on the Department's website below: <https://www.tid.gov.hk/en/our_work/import_export_licensing_control/goods/flour.html>.

10. If the Mainland continues with its export administration measures for cereals and grain flour in the year after 2024, the Department will notify Registered Importers of the renewal arrangements before expiry of the Certificates.

11. For wheat flour and rice flour, Registered Importers should report the monthly import quantities from the Mainland in the preceding month on or before the 15th day of every month on the proforma designated by the Department. As for rice, Registered Importers should submit the Rice Stockholders' Monthly Return under the Rice Control Scheme to the Rice Control Unit in accordance with the Reserved Commodities (Control of Imports, Exports and Reserve Stocks) Regulations (Cap. 296A).

12. All Registered Importers should also give consent to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to disclose information relevant to their registrations, including those mentioned in paragraph 11, to the Mainland authorities. Such information will only be used for the purposes relating to the Mainland export administration measures for cereals and grain flour and the Registration.

13. Moreover, a Registered Importer should undertake:

1. to take all reasonable and practicable measures in ensuring that the wheat flour, rice flour, and rice imported from the Mainland are for consumption in Hong Kong only and are not for re-export;
2. to maintain accurate and up-to-date records of purchase, storage and sales. If the wheat flour, rice flour, and rice are imported from multiple places of origin, stock records should be kept properly to ensure clear differentiation of all the wheat flour, rice flour, and rice imported from the Mainland;
3. to agree, under reasonable circumstances, to provide relevant officers of the HKSAR Government with information relating to item (ii) above and to give consent that the HKSAR Government may disclose the relevant information to the Mainland authorities. Such information will only be used for the purposes relating to the Mainland export administration measures for cereals and grain flour and the Registration; and
4. to permit relevant officers of the HKSAR Government, under reasonable circumstances, to enter its business and storage premises for the purposes of inspection and verification of information relating to item (ii) above.

14. If the Registered Importer has breached any of the above undertakings and cannot provide reasonable explanations in writing, the Department may cancel its registration and revoke the Certificate(s) issued. The Department will also remove it from the Register.

15. For details of the Mainland export administration measures for cereals and grain flour and the Registration, please visit the Department's website <https://www.tid.gov.hk/en/our_work/import_export_licensing_control/goods/flour.html>.

16. For any enquiries, please contact us at:

Tel. No. : 2398 5733
Fax. No. : 2309 7744
E-mail Address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Yours faithfully,

(Jason WONG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note: Under the revised registration conditions, businesses that have imported wheat flour and/ or rice flour from any origin (not confined to the Mainland) within the specified period will be eligible for registration.