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24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : stc@tid.gov.hk
Ref : TRA CR 1015/35
29 October 2024
 
Strategic Trade Control Circular No. 11/2024

Pre-classification Service on Strategic Commodities

 
             This circular serves to inform the trade of the Pre-Classification Service on Strategic Commodities ( “Pre-Classification Service” ) and the new electronic means to obtain the Pre-Classification Result.  Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 5/04 dated 8 April 2004 on the same subject is hereby superseded.


Background
 
2.          To facilitate the trade in determining whether a product is a strategic commodity, which is subject to the import / export licensing requirements under the Import and Export Ordinance ( Cap. 60, Laws of Hong Kong ) and the Import and Export ( Strategic Commodities ) Regulations ( Cap. 60G, Laws of Hong Kong ), Trade and Industry Department ( "TID" ) provides Pre-Classification Service.


What is Pre-Classification Service?

3.          By Pre-Classification Service, the applicant is advised on:
  1. whether a product is a strategic commodity; and
  2. if the product is a strategic commodity, the product’s
    1. category number ( as classified under Schedule 1 of the Import and Export ( Strategic Commodities ) Regulations, Cap 60G, Laws of Hong Kong );
    2. information to be made on future licence applications; and
    3. "Pre-Classification Reference Number" ( PCRN ) 1 assigned by TID. ( please see more information in paragraphs 4, 15 and 16 below ).

Advantages of Pre-Classification

4.          Traders are encouraged to use Pre-Classification Service to enjoy the following benefits and facilitation:
  1. To check and obtain an official document issued by TID on whether import / export licence is needed for a product, even before any actual order or shipment is to be arranged
  2. [ for strategic commodity ] On import / export licence applications, to quote the product’s PCRN and declare the product information ( i.e. Brand Name, Model Number, Product Description etc. ) as shown on the Pre-Classification Result such that:
     
         i. the bulky specifications and other technical documents are not necessary to be submitted; and

        ii. the licence applications can be processed much more expeditiously.
     
Application Procedures

( A ) Paper Application
 
5.           Traders should submit the completed Pre-Classification Application Form, SC013 ( Rev 2021 ) ( Annex A ),  together with the required supporting documents ( please see paragraph 9 ) at TID’s Integrated Customer Service Centre ( “ICSC” ) ( address: Room 1324, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong ).
 
6.           The Application Form is available at ICSC and can also be downloaded ( in fillable pdf format ) from the Strategic Commodities Control System Website ( "SC Website" ) at https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk. Specimen of a completed Pre-Classification Application Form is at Annex B ( pdf format ).


( B ) Electronic Application

7.           Pre-Classification E-application can be made via companies' E-Accounts2 on the SC Website or through Trade Single Window ( TSW )3.   The supporting documents can be uploaded and submitted together with the Pre-Classification E-Application.  Alternatively, they can be submitted to TID by fax ( fax no. 2396 3070 ) or in person at the ICSC.

8.           To submit E-Applications, companies are required to register an E-Account on the SC Website or become “Linked-up” TSW users.


( C ) Points to Note

9.           Each Pre-Classification Application can cover only one product and must be submitted together with the product's technical specifications / data sheets.   In particular, the following information must be provided : 
  1. Brand / Maker Name;
  2. Model / Part No.;
  3. Product description including detailed technical information;
  4. In certain cases, some parameters are not given or shown clearly in the technical specifications / data sheets. To enable TID to assess your case, please declare the parameters that are applicable to the commodities ( please see Annex C ) ;
  5. Country ( Place ) of Origin; and
  6. End-use of the Commodity, if available.
10.         TID will keep and will not return the product’s technical specifications / data sheets for record and reference.


Pre-Classification Result

11.         Provided that all the necessary information and supporting documents are submitted, TID generally takes 2 clear working days to process a Pre-Classification application.
  1. For paper application - Traders can collect the paper Pre-Classification Result at the ICSC.  Before collection, applicants are advised to check the application processing status on the SC website.
  2. For E-Application - Traders can :
i.   obtain and print out the E-Pre-Classification Result4 which is available at their E-Accounts; and / or

ii.  collect the paper Pre-Classification Result at the ICSC.

12.         Traders may wish to note that TID may fine-tune and standardize terms / wording / abbreviations in respect of product information ( i.e. Brand Name, Model Number, Product Description etc. ) in the Pre-Classification Result.  This is necessary for the consistency and clarity of the records in TID's database.

13.         TID may also impose special conditions for the use of the Pre-Classification Result.  Traders are reminded to take note of whether there is a section "Special Conditions" on the Pre-Classification Result and strictly observe these conditions thereunder when using the Pre-Classification Result.


Import/Export Licence Applications Covering "Un-Pre-Classified" Products

14.         For licence applications covering products which have not been pre-classified by TID, applicants must submit the applications together with the products' technical specifications / data sheets and other useful technical documents.

15.         Same as processing Pre-Classification Applications, TID will assign a PCRN to each product classified to be a strategic commodity, which is printed alongside the product description on the licences.  The PCRNs assigned and shown on licences can be of the same usage as those obtained from Pre-Classification Service.

16.         If the products covered by licence applications are classified as non-strategic commodity, TID will issue a No Licence Required Notification ( “NLR Notification” ).


Reminder
 
17.         Traders are reminded that Pre-Classification Result is in no way a substitute of an import or export licence.  If the product is classified as a strategic commodity, separate licence applications must be made unless licence exemption applies ( i.e. air shipment cargoes made under the Air Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme for Specified Strategic Commodities ).

18.         Despite TID's advice given on the Pre-classification Result, TID may still require the licence applicant to provide additional information to enable further assessment.

19.         It is the traders’ responsibility to ensure that the technical specifications of the goods in the actual shipment are the same as those of the Pre-Classification Application.  For licence applications quoted with PCRNs, applicants must make sure that the goods under applications are the same ones which TID has assessed and assigned the quoted PCRNs to.  Any misuse of Pre-Classification Service, PCRNs or misrepresentation of information on the related licence application constitutes a serious offence under the Import and Export Ordinance ( Cap. 60 ), and may render the applicant to legal and / or administrative action, and suspension / revocation of licences and the facilitation granted in relation to Pre-Classification Service.  If there is any change of technical specifications on a previously Pre-Classified product, a new Pre-Classification request or licence must be submitted.

20.         Pre-Classification service only deals with the technical side of the product.  Other licence requirements, such as requirement for foreign export licence as supporting document and additional declarations to be made on licence applications will continue be considered on the merits of each licence application submitted.


Enquiry
 
21.         Enquires can be made as follow :
 
 
Telephone no.:
Classification Section
2398 5587
Technical Help Desk ( E-services )
2398 5659


 

Strategic Trade Controls Branch
Trade and Industry Department



 

Note 1 : PCRNs assigned before 13 April 2004 are all in an 8-digit format.  A copy of  the Pre-Classification Result is required to be submitted together with licence applications declared with these 8-digit PCRNs. TID will re-assign a new digit number to each of such product(s). 

Note 2 : Details of E-Accounts can be found on the SC Website: 
https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk/english/eaccount/how_open.html

Note 3 : Details of TSW can be found in Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 2/2024:
https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk/english/circular_pub/2024_stc02.html 

Note 4 : For authenticity verification sake, a QR code is inserted at the lower right-hand corner of the E-Pre-Classification Result.  By scanning the QR code, the departmental copy of the Pre-Classification Result will be retrieved and shown.  If any irregularity is found, traders should notify TID as soon as possible. 
 
 

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Last Revision Date : 28 February 2025