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Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2026 gazetted
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     ​The Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2026 was published in the Gazette today (February 20). The Notice aims to amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pesticides Ordinance (Cap. 133), listing two types of pesticides called carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640 grams of active ingredient per litre) respectively, in order to give effect to the amendment to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade in 2025 (the amendment) to list these two pesticides in its Annex III. The amendment to the Pesticides Ordinance will tighten the regulatory regime regarding these two pesticides, thereby safeguarding public health and protecting the environment. The Government will table the Notice at the Legislative Council on February 25, 2026.

     A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, "Carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient per litre) are already regulated by pesticide permit conditions under the Pesticides Ordinance. Any person who imports, manufactures, sells, supplies, is in possession of or uses, etc, such pesticides must hold a valid permit. After carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient per litre) are listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pesticides Ordinance, their exports will be further restricted." 

     The Convention is an international treaty for safeguarding human health and protecting the environment. The Convention, which implements a prior informed consent procedure in the international trade of specified hazardous chemicals, aims to promote shared responsibility and co-operative efforts among parties to the Convention, with a view to protecting human health and avoiding potential harm to the environment caused by such chemicals. The treaty entered into force in the People's Republic of China in 2005 and has been applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since 2008. The amendment entered into force for all Convention parties, including the People's Republic of China, on October 22, 2025.

     The Notice published in the Gazette today stipulated that the amendment to the Pesticides Ordinance will enter into force in Hong Kong on April 17, 2026. Any person who exports, imports, manufactures, sells, supplies, possesses or uses, etc, carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient per litre) without holding a pesticide permit commits an offence. Offenders will be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.
 
Ends/Friday, February 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00
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