Frequently Asked Questions

The DGO regulates the manufacture, storage, conveyance and use of dangerous goods.  A person must have a licence granted by the Fire Services Department (“FSD”) under the DGO to manufacture any dangerous goods (“DG”), or store, convey or use DG exceeding the exempt quantity.

Upon the receipt of an application for DG licence, the FSD will conduct a risk assessment of the case on its own merit, and formulate fire safety requirements for compliance by the applicant. After inspection and confirmation that all these fire safety requirements have been complied with, the FSD will issue a DG licence to the applicant.

Manufacture of dangerous goods includes the change of nature or form of any substance by processing, compressing, liquefying or other means.  It also includes the filling of a pressure receptacle (other than a boiler or a pressure vessel as defined by section 2(1) of the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance (Cap. 56)) with any gas.

However, it does not include assembling, mixing, compounding or installing for the preparation of materials within the meaning of pyrotechnic special effects material under the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance (Cap 560) if the process is authorized by a discharge permit issued under the Cap. 560.  Moreover, it also does not include the removal of a refrigerant from a refrigeration machine or equipment and storing the refrigerant in a container designed for storing it.

The main features of the amendments to the DGO include:

• To update the classification systems of dangerous goods (“DG”) to harmonize them with international standards (the types of DG under regulation increased from over 1 100 to over 2 300 (including explosives classified as Class 1 DG); Classes 2 to 9 DG regulated by the Fire Services Department, which increased from over 400 to over 1 700);
• To update the packing, marking and labelling requirements of DG to harmonize them with international standards;
• To update the exempt quantity of DG through a risk-based approach;
• To facilitate the trade and the public without compromising public safety, such as stipulating exemption in respect of DG in consumer packs;
• To explain the technical requirements by way of a code of practice, and update the technical requirements timely to keep pace with the times; and
• To update the penalties for offences to maintain a necessary deterrent effect.