Live animals
The import of mammals, birds and reptiles is controlled under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance, Cap. 139 and Rabies Ordinance, Cap.421. These animals should not be brought into Hong Kong unless a permit is obtained in advance from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

However, the import of plants produced in the Mainland of China is exempted from licensing requirement. The exemption also applies to the import of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables for consumption.

Endangered animals and plants
The import of endangered animals and plants, whether alive, dead, parts or derivatives is controlled under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586).
To import any endangered species, a licence should be obtained for individual shipment in advance from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Animal carcass and product
Under the Rabies Regulation, Cap. 421, no person shall import into Hong Kong any animal, carcass or animal product except under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department "Animal Products" means parts or derivatives of a dog, a cat (e.g. dog skin, canine semen, canine plasma, etc.) or any animal that has been infected with rabies.

liquors, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol
There are four types of dutiable commodities in Hong Kong. They are liquors, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol. Importation of these commodities requires a licence from the Customs and Excise Department. In addition, removal permits will also be required.(See "Dutiable Commodities")

In addition to the import licence, import of explosives is subject to control under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance and the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance. For pyrotechnic special effects materials as defined under the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance, please go to the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. For explosives other than the above, please go to the Civil Engineering and Development Department. For conveyance of explosives by sea, the master, agent or owner of the vessel is required to submit a dangerous goods manifest to the Director of Marine. The format of the Dangerous goods manifest can be obtained from the Marine Department.

Also include air rifles / air guns with muzzle energy greater than 2 joules, electric stun guns, aerosols containing noxious liquid, gas or powder e.g. dog repellents, harpoons, spear guns and crossbows with draw weight of over 6 kg

Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, Cap. 238, possession of firearms and ammunition is subject to a licence for possession or a dealer's licence issued by the Hong Kong Police Force. Apart from the common types of pistols, air guns and air rifles with muzzle energy greater than 2 joules, electric stun guns, aerosols containing noxious gas, liquid or powder e.g. dog repellents, harpoons, spear guns and crossbows with draw weight of more than 6 kg are also defined as arms under the Ordinance. In addition, importation of firearms and ammunition that fall under the Munitions List of Schedule I to the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations, (Cap.60 sub. Leg. G) also requires a licence from the Trade and Industry Department

To ensure hygienic standards of food, importers are encouraged to obtain health certificates issued by health authorities of countries of origin to accompany their imports certifying that the food products concerned are fit for human consumption. In addition, there are specific legal requirements or administrative arrangements for the import of the following food items:

• Game, meat and poultry
• Milk and milk beverages
• Frozen confections
• Food containing added colouring matter
• Food containing metals
• Food containing artificial sweeteners
• Food containing aflatoxins, erucic acid or other prohibited substances
• Food containing preservatives or antioxidants
  
  

The import of pesticides into Hong Kong is controlled under the Import and Export Ordinance, Cap.60 and Pesticides Ordinance, Cap. 133. Under the Import and Export, an import licence must be obtained in advance from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for every consignment of pesticides imported into Hong Kong including those on valid through bills of lading. However, import licence for methyl bromide, which is both a pesticide and an ozone depleting substance, is issued by the Trade and Industry Department

Under the Pesticides Ordinance, companies handling pesticides import into Hong Kong whether for local use or subsequent re-export, must possess a pesticides licence or permit issued by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. A licence is required for pesticides registered in Hong Kong and a permit for those not registered. Pesticides imported/exported on a valid through bill of lading are exempted from the control of the Pesticides Ordinance.

In addition, the import of methyl bromide into Hong Kong is controlled under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance, Cap.403. Under the Ordinance, import of methyl bromide for local utilization is only allowed if it is used for quarantine and pre-shipment cargo treatment. Anyone who imports methyl bromide should hold a certificate of registration under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance issued by the Trade and Industry Department under the delegated authority from the Director of Environmental Protection and a Pesticides Permit under the Pesticides Ordinance issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Importation of pharmaceutical products and medicines must be covered by a licence issued by the Department of Health.

Pharmaceutical products and medicines imported in the personal baggage of a person entering Hong Kong and which are accompanied by him and in a reasonable quantity for his personal use may be exempted from licensing requirement. Transhipment cargo may be exempted from licensing requirements under certain conditions. (See "Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme")

Importation of medicines containing ingredients of highly endangered animals is subject to licensing control under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, Cap. 586 regulated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

Vehicles, Vehicle parts, Outboard engines exceeding 111.9 kilowatts (150 horsepower)

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, Cap.60, carriage of prescribed articles onboard a vessel less than 250 gross tons with the waters of Hong Kong is subject to a licence issued by the Customs and Excise Department. (See "Carriage Licence for Prescribed Articles")

The import of frozen meat, chilled meat, frozen poultry and chilled poultry is subject to licensing control under the Import and Export Ordinance, Cap. 60. Every consignment imported into Hong Kong must be covered by an import licence issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. No licence is required for the import of rice, frozen or chilled meat and poultry imported in the personal baggage of a person for personal consumption or as gifts, in an amount not exceeding 15 kg. For frozen or chilled meat and poultry, however, an official certificate as defined in the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations, Cap. 132, sub. leg. AK, is required. Transhipment cargo may also be exempted from licensing requirement under certain conditions. (See "Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme")

Prior written permission from the FEHD is required for transhipment cargo. The consignment should be accompanied by an official certificate issued by a competent authority from the country of origin (if it is conveyed in sealed refrigerated container) or accompanied by a transhipment certificate issued by a competent authority of the country of transit certifying that the goods were properly imported into the country of transit and that during its stay there, it did not suffer any spoilage or deterioration (if it is conveyed other than in sealed refrigerated container).

Enquiries can be made to the Food Import and Export Section, Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at 43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.

Products such as high performance digital computers, high speed and high density integrated circuits, sophisticated communication systems, nuclear materials, high precision machine tools, chemical weapon precursors, small arms, large artillery weapons, ammunition, bombs etc. and all articles for a use in connection with nuclear, chemical or biological weapons are generally considered as strategic commodities. Detailed definitions of strategic commodities are set out in the Schedules to the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Cap.60 sub. Leg. G).

To monitor and control the flow of strategic commodities and hence prevent Hong Kong from being used as a conduit for the proliferation of weapons and to guarantee Hong Kong's access to high technology products, import of strategic commodities, as required by the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap 60) and the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Cap.60 sub. Leg.G), is subject to the licensing control by the Trade and Industry Department.