Application for Pesticide Licence

The Pesticides Ordinance, Cap. 133, was introduced to control the import, manufacture, repackage, supply, storage, labelling and sale of potentially dangerous pesticides. Only persons licenced under the Pesticides Ordinance may import, deal in or sell registered pesticides.

Registered pesticides are classified into two parts according to their usage and toxicity. All those ready for immediate use in general household situation will be registered as Part I pesticides and all other pesticides will be registered as Part II pesticides.

Licences to retail pesticides will normally be issued in respect of registered pesticides subject to the restrictions imposed on any pesticide listed in the Register.

Any person wishing to import/repackage/supply/manufacture/retail any Part I and/or Part II registered pesticides should apply, in the following manner, for a licence.

• Application for a licence may be made at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, 5/F., Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

• Application form and guideline can be downloaded here. Facsimile copy is also obtainable from the interactive telephone No. (852) 2708 8885.

• Postal application should be addressed to the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, but enquiries may be made to the Plant & Pesticides Regulatory Division (Tel.: (852) 2150 7007).

• Applicants are required to complete, in duplicate, an application form. A photocopy of the Business Registration Certificate should be submitted together with the application.

• Before the application to be considered, every section on the application form must be completed. Normally it will take at least 2 working days to process the application

• A fee of HK$ 125.00 is charged for every application for a licence. It is not refundable despite the result of the application.

• Before the application is approved, the Director may require inspection of :

  1. The premises intended for storage, repackaging, manufacture or sale of pesticides.
     Note :It is particularly important that no food or drink should be stored, prepared or consumed in the same room or in close proximity to the pesticides. Similarly no clothing or other absorbent material should be placed near pesticides.

  2. The containers to be used for storage and sale of each pesticide.
     Note :They must be impervious to the pesticide, strong enough to resist damage from normal handling and made of metal, glass or plastic. If the latter two materials are used for the container, the outer surface must be fluted vertically with ribs or grooves recognizable by touch, for ease of distinction from bottles used for beer, soy sauce, soft drink etc. which must never be used for pesticides.

• Applicants are reminded to conform to the pesticide labelling requirements of Regulation 12 of the Ordinance. General labelling guidelines can be obtained from this Department.

• Where the licence is approved, or approved with limitations, the applicant will be notified and one of the following licence fees is required to be paid before the licence can be issued.

  • Licences to deal in Part I pesticides -HK$ 395.00

  • Licences to deal in Part II pesticides -HK$ 800.00

  • -Licences to deal in all registered pesticides -HK$ 800.00

• If this fee is not paid within one month from the date of the notice of approval, the approval will lapse and a new application must be made.

• Every licence shall expire 12 months after the date of issue but may, on payment of one of the following licence renewal fees, be renewed by this department.

  • Licences to deal in Part I pesticide -HK$ 200.00

  • Licences to deal in Part II pesticide -HK$ 580.00

  • Licences to deal in all Registered pesticide -HK$ 580.00

• No applications for renewal will be accepted after the date of expiry. Application made after that date must be accompanied by a new application form and the application fee of -HK$ 125.00.

• An "Import & Supply Licence" allowing the holder to import pesticides will not exempt him from complying with the Import and Export Ordinance, Cap. 60. Each shipment of pesticides imported, exported, or transshipped in Hong Kong must be covered by an Import and/or Export Licence issued by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

• Penalties :

  • import/supply/sale/manufacture of a registered pesticide by any person other than a licencee -HK$ 50,000 fine and one year's imprisonment.

  • in contravention of any conditions as gazetted for the use of any prohibited or controlled inert ingredient; use of this particular inert ingredient in the manufacture of pesticide; or import/supply/sale of pesticide containing this particular inert ingredient- HK$ 2,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.

  • in contravention of any of the conditions imposed on a licence- HK$ 25,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.

  • obstruction of an inspector, refusing to allow the collection of a sample, failure to produce licence etc. - HK$ 10,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.