The Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance will come into force in phases from tomorrow, the Environmental Protection Department says.

It requires anyone wanting to import, export, manufacture or use any scheduled chemicals subject to the law's regulation to have a valid activity-based permit issued by the department, which is generally valid for 12 months.

Under the Import/Export Ordinance, an import/export licence is also required for every shipment of scheduled chemicals entering or leaving Hong Kong under the consignment-based licensing system. The department will issue the licence under Director-General of Trade & Industry's delegated authority.

The hazardous chemicals control ordinance was promulgated on July 20 last year to regulate the import, export, manufacture and use of non-pesticide hazardous chemicals through an activity-based permit system. Its subsidiary legislation was passed in November to govern the application of permits and the fees payable.

These chemicals are covered by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals & Pesticides in International Trade. Click here for more details.