Import Licence for Radioactive Substances and Irradiating Apparatus

General Information

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Licence Application

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Licence Amendment

Any amendments of an approved import licence could only be made by the Radiation Health Division upon receipt of written applications for amendments by the importers concerned.

Request for amendment of approved Import Licence should be made in the form of a letter, with both the original and duplicate copies returned. The letter should state the import licence number concerned, reason(s) for amendment and the item(s) to be amended, and a company chop should be applied thereon.

Applicant should provide copies of bill of lading/ air waybill, invoice and packing list to support the amendments of relevant particulars.

Licence Cancellation

Request for cancellation of an approved but unused Import Licence should be made in writing or by filling out the IL-CAN form and return together with the complete set of all copies of the unused Import Licence to the Radioactive Substances and Irradiating Apparatus Import Licensing Office at 3/F, Sai Wan Ho Health Centre, 28 Tai Hong Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong. The reasons should be given in case any of the licence copies are not returned.

Other Points to Note on Licence Application

For belated licence applications, the applicant shall provide the following supporting documents:

1. a letter explaining why the belated application is made and whether the importer has taken delivery of the arrived goods;
2. a declaration duly completed by the relevant carrier or cargo agent indicating whether the importer has taken delivery of the arrived goods;
3. a fresh set of completed Import Licence Form in respect of the consignment under application (exact date of arrival and vehicle/ vessel/ flight number should be shown in the relevant boxes);
4. photocopies of the relevant shipping documents, i.e. bill of lading (if consigned by sea), air waybill (if consigned by air), manifest (if consigned by land) or through bill of lading (if transhipment);
5. other relevant supporting documents, such as invoice, packing list, letter from the relevant carrier; and;
6. in case of importation after the expiry of the validity of an approved import licence, the unused copies of the expired licence should be returned for cancellation.

Warning:

Importers should note that lodgement of belated applications for the Import Licences does not imply automatic approval of the licences. The issue of such a licence is for the sole purpose of facilitating consignment handling and/or trade data capturing and the granting of such a licence shall not constitute a defence in any proceedings under the Import and Export Ordinance or preclude any administrative action which may be taken by the Director-General of Trade and Industry.

Effect of Shipment

Requirement on the Importer:

An importer shall present the Import Licence to the owner of the vessel, aircraft or vehicle in or on which any radioactive substances or irradiating apparatus is imported within 7 days after the consignment is imported.

Requirement on the Carrier:

The owner of the vessel, aircraft or vehicle in or on which any radioactive substances and / or irradiating apparatus is imported shall retain possession of the consignment until there is produced to him a valid Import Licence.

The owner of the vessel, aircraft or vehicle shall, within 7 days after receiving the import licence, deliver it to the Director-General of Trade and Industry together with the relevant manifest. For importation of radioactive substances and / or irradiating apparatus by road, Trade and Industry Department accepts that delivery by the carrier of the import licence and the relevant manifest covering the consignment to officers of the Customs and Excise Department at land border control points at the time of their entering Hong Kong constitutes the delivery of such documents to the Director-General of Trade and Industry.

Please visit the Trade and Industry Department web page for further information on manifest requirements.

Enforcement

The Customs and Excise Department will check whether radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus are imported under and in accordance with a licence. Any person who contravenes the licensing requirements may be prosecuted and liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment of one year. In addition, the Trade and Industry Department may take administrative action, independent and irrespective of legal action mentioned above, against the parties to a licence.

Please visit the Trade and Industry Department web page for further information.

¹Related licensing matters are stipulated in relevant provisions of Part II of Import and Export Ordinance (Cap 60).