Can you still buy Hikvision or Dahua? Country-by-country rules for 2026

Safety managers ask this question often, because many warehouses and plants already run Hikvision or Dahua cameras and the analytics vendors they talk to may sit on top of them. Hikvision alone reported RMB 92.51 billion of revenue for 2025, with 29.42% from outside China ^[1].

The short answer for a private company is that it is generally still legal to buy and use these cameras in the countries covered here. What has been restricted is public-sector use, federally linked use in the US, and, from October 13, 2026, which new devices the US will authorize. This article goes country by country, then gives a checklist for private buyers. For what the new US component rule means in detail, see the FCC component rule and safety cameras.

The pattern behind the rules

In our reading of the rules below, security restrictions follow public money and public functions, not the product type. They bite on government buyers, federal contractors and critical infrastructure. A private site in Ohio or Leeds is not their target. For private sites the binding rules are usually privacy and worker monitoring law, which apply whatever camera brand is used (see the guide chapter on privacy law and workers).

That does not make brand choice irrelevant. Your customers, your insurers and your own federal contracts can turn a legal choice into a commercial problem.

United States

The US has four separate layers, and they are often confused.

Section 889 (federal procurement). FAR 52.204-25 bars federal agencies from buying covered telecommunications and video surveillance equipment and, since August 13, 2020, from contracting with companies that use it ^[2]. For Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera, the coverage is limited to public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure and other national security purposes ^[2]. A private company that holds a federal contract therefore has to check its own sites, not only what it sells to the government.

Federal grants and loans. Under 2 CFR 200.216, recipients may not use federal grant or loan money to buy covered equipment ^[3]. A grant-funded safety camera project at a port or a public utility falls under this.

FCC authorization. Hikvision and Dahua video surveillance and telecommunications equipment has been on the FCC Covered List since March 12, 2021, for the same purposes ^[4]. From October 13, 2026, the FCC will also refuse to authorize new devices that contain logic-bearing components, such as chips, modules or boards, made by Covered List entities where the whole device would be barred ^[5]. The rule applies only to new applications and does not affect equipment already authorized ^[5]. A separate 2025 FCC process can cut off import and marketing of earlier models, but it does not restrict continued use ^[6]. The FCC applied it from July 16, 2026 to equipment added to the Covered List in 2024 or earlier, which includes these cameras for the covered purposes, while pausing the ban for critical infrastructure surveillance until it adopted a definition ^[16]. That definition takes effect on October 13, 2026, which ends the pause ^[5][16]. Already purchased equipment can still be used and operated ^[16]. The same rule narrowed the "critical infrastructure" definition to systems used in the 16 Department of Homeland Security sectors when they provide one of 55 National Critical Functions ^[5].

Entity List (exports). The Commerce Department added Hikvision and Dahua, among others, to the Entity List in October 2019 ^[7], and added Zhejiang Uniview in December 2024 ^[8]. The Entity List restricts exports of US items to these companies. It does not ban buying or using their products.

What it means for a private buyer. Using already installed cameras at a private site is not prohibited by any of these rules. The questions to answer are whether you hold federal contracts, whether federal money pays for the project, and whether the site serves a listed purpose such as critical infrastructure.

United Kingdom

In November 2022, UK government departments were told to stop deploying, on sensitive sites, cameras made by companies subject to China's National Intelligence Law, not to connect such equipment to their core networks, and to consider removing it before planned upgrades ^[9]. By October 2024 more than half of the affected sites had replaced the cameras, according to a government minister's letter, with complete removal targeted for April 2025 ^[10]. We found no government confirmation that the work was completed.

The Procurement Act 2023, in force since February 24, 2025, allows suppliers to be excluded from public contracts on national security grounds, with a minister's approval ^[11].

What it means for a private buyer. We found no ban on private-sector use. A UK logistics or manufacturing site can install these cameras, but if it serves central government or sensitive public-sector clients it should expect questions and may be asked to avoid them.

Canada

On June 27, 2025, the federal government ordered Hikvision Canada Inc. to wind up its operations in Canada under the Investment Canada Act ^[12]. The order concerns the company's Canadian operations. It does not ban private use of the cameras.

What it means for a private buyer. The practical issue is local supply, warranty and support. Ask how firmware updates and replacements will be handled, and expect public-sector customers to prefer other brands.

Australia

In February 2023, Australia's defense minister said Chinese-made security cameras found at Defence sites would be removed. This followed a report that at least 913 Hikvision and Dahua cameras, intercoms, entry systems and video recorders were installed across government departments and agencies ^[13].

What it means for a private buyer. The action covered government sites, and the removal was announced rather than confirmed as complete in the source we used. We found no rule for private businesses. Companies that work on defense or government sites should expect the same expectation to pass down to them.

European Union

We found no EU-wide ban on any camera brand. EU rules apply to all makers in the same way. Under the Cyber Resilience Act, makers of products with digital elements have had to report actively exploited vulnerabilities and severe incidents since September 11, 2026, and the main obligations apply from December 11, 2027 ^[14]. How cameras may be used to watch workers is governed by data protection and labor law, which apply whatever the brand.

What it means for a private buyer. Brand is not legally barred. The work is in the data protection impact assessment, works council consultation where one exists, and asking the vendor for its Cyber Resilience Act plan. For UK and US analytics vendors selling into the EU, see AI safety cameras in Europe: UK versus US vendors.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is moving the other way. At a ceremony on May 29, 2024, Hikvision and alfanar marked local manufacture of security products at a newly built facility in Riyadh, linked to the "Made in Saudi" program, according to sponsored company news ^[15].

What it means for a private buyer. We found no restriction. Where tenders favor local content, a locally made camera can be an advantage. Multinationals should still check whether the same equipment would be acceptable at their US, UK or Australian sites if they want one global standard.

Country summary

Checklist for private buyers

1. List your obligations. Note federal contracts, federal grants or loans, defense or government work, and any site that may serve a critical infrastructure function.
2. Inventory the cameras and recorders. Record brand, model, firmware and FCC ID. Include white-label units, which may be made by a restricted company under another name.
3. Ask analytics vendors which cameras they support and which they supply. A vendor that ships its own camera or edge box should give you a written parts statement from October 13, 2026.
4. Check support. Ask how long firmware and security updates will continue for your installed models, especially in Canada.
5. Price the whole life. A cheaper camera may cost more if a major customer later asks you to replace it. Our article on existing cameras versus new AI cameras sets out the replacement decision.
6. Record the decision. Write down why the brand is acceptable for each site and who signed off. That record is what a customer or auditor will ask for.

What to do next

• Map every site against the restrictions in the table and flag those with federal, defense or public-sector links.
• Add FCC ID and parts statement requirements to camera, recorder and edge box purchases.
• For Canadian sites, confirm support arrangements in writing.
• For EU sites, add the Cyber Resilience Act question to vendor due diligence.
• Use the vendor landscape chapter and our country matrix to shortlist alternatives where a restricted brand is not acceptable.