Strategic Commodities Pre-Screening
Strategic commodities encompass items delineated in the Schedules under the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations as stipulated in the Import and Export Ordinance, Chapter 60 of the Laws of Hong Kong (“Ordinance”). The import and export of strategic commodities necessitate licenses issued by the Director-General of Trade and Industry in accordance with the Ordinance. To streamline trade operations and ascertain whether a product falls under the classification of strategic commodities, thereby subject to import/export licensing control, the Trade and Industry Department (“TID”) extends a Pre-Classification Service.
Pre-Classification is a service through which traders are advised on:
a. whether a particular product is a strategic commodity; and
b. if the product is a strategic commodity,
- the category number under Schedule 1 of the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations that the product is classified to belong to;
- the technical information of the product required to be made on future license applications; and
- the “Pre-classification Reference Number” assigned by TID to the product concerned. This number will greatly facilitate future license applications covering the same product.
Pre-Classification Procedures
To engage the Pre-Classification Service, applicants are required to complete the Pre-classification Application Form.
Each Pre-Classification Application should focus on a singular product and must be accompanied by technical specifications/data sheets. Additionally, the following product details should be provided within the Pre-Classification Application Form:
Brand/Manufacturer Name
Model/Part Number
Comprehensive product description with detailed technical information
Country (Place) of Origin
End-use of the Commodity, if ascertainable
Issuance of Pre-Classification Result
TID typically processes a Pre-Classification application within a timeframe of 2 to 3 weeks.
The pre-classification service offers several notable advantages:
- Eliminates the need for applicants to repeatedly include extensive specifications for the same product.
- Provides traders with official guidance from the Trade and Industry Department regarding product classification, even in the absence of an immediate need for a license application.
- Helps prevent delays in license applications that may arise from inadequate technical information or unclear declarations.
- Facilitates the maintenance of a structured database by the Trade and Industry Department for technical specifications/data sheets submitted by traders, streamlining product identification processes and reducing reliance on manufacturers for clarification.
- For products deemed non-strategic, the pre-classification advice serves as evidence to carriers that the product is not classified as a strategic commodity
