Identifying the Correct Codes for Your Products
Written By: Narek Hakobyan
If you work in the healthcare and life sciences industry, you must know the specific HS codes for your products. HS codes, which stands for Harmonized System codes, are a globally recognized classification system for international trade. These codes identify the nature, source, and destination of goods and calculate tariffs, taxes, and customs duties. These products require accurate HS codes for international trade. We'll explain their categories and corresponding HS codes.
HS Codes for Healthcare and Life Sciences
Most healthcare and life sciences related codes are classified under Chapter 30 of the HS code system. This chapter specifically covers Pharmaceutical Products, such as medicaments, vaccines, serums, biological specimens, herbal medicines, and traditional remedies. There are also codes from Chapter 38 that covers Miscellaneous Chemical Products, such as prepared culture media and diagnostic/laboratory reagents.
Here are some of the main categories of healthcare and life sciences products and their corresponding HS codes:
- Human Tissue: HS Code 3001
This category includes dried glands and other organs used for organotherapeutic purposes, whether in powdered form or not. It also covers extracts of glands or organs, including their secretions, for organotherapeutic uses.
- Blood and Blood Components: HS Code 3002
This category includes blood products, plasma, and other components used in transfusions and medical treatments. - Pharmaceutical Products: HS Code 3003
These products are medications composed of two or more ingredients that are mixed together for therapeutic or preventive purposes. - Medicaments: HS Code 3004
These products are medicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) Products for therapeutic or prophylactic use, consisting of mixed or unmixed ingredients, prepared in measured doses or packaging for retail sale. This includes antibiotics, such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin, in tablets, capsules, syrups, or injections. - Medicaments: HS Code 3005
These items are pharmaceutical preparations containing one or more substances in specified doses or presentations intended for retail, including items like bandages, gauze, plasters, and similar products. - Pharmaceutical Goods: HS Code 3006
This category includes sterile surgical materials such as catgut and suture materials, laminaria, absorbable hemostatics, X-ray opacifying preparations, clinical trial kits, dental cements, first-aid kits, contraceptive preparations, gel preparations for medical use, waste pharmaceuticals, and ostomy appliances. These items encompass a range of medical products for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic purposes. - Prepared Culture Media: HS Code 3821
These products are used for the development or maintenance of microorganisms, plant cells, animal cells, or human cells. - Diagnostic or Laboratory Reagents: HS Code 3822
These are products used for analysis, such as lab equipment and diagnostic test kits.
HS Codes for Medical Devices
The HS codes for medical devices can be found in Chapter 90 and range from 9018 to 9027, depending on the function and application of the device. Here are some of the main categories of medical devices and their corresponding HS codes:
- Medical, Surgical, Dental, or Veterinary Instruments and Appliances: HS Code 9018
This refers to medical devices such as stethoscopes, syringes, endoscopes, scalpels, dental drills, implants, and other tools. - Mechano-Therapy Appliances: HS Code 9019
This includes any massage devices and chiropractic instruments. - Orthopedic Appliances and Hearing Aids: HS Code 9021
This includes a range of medical devices such as artificial limbs, joints, bones, hearing aids, cochlear implants, pacemakers, insulin pumps, intrauterine devices, and stents. - X-ray or Radiation Apparatus: HS Code 9022
This includes medical imaging and radiation therapy equipment such as X-ray, CT, MRI, PET scanners, dosimeters, and radiation detectors. - Hydrometers, Thermometers, Barometers, Hygrometers, and Psychrometers: HS Code 9025
This covers devices like clinical thermometers, infrared thermometers, blood pressure monitors, humidity meters, etc. - Instruments and Apparatus for Physical or Chemical Analysis: HS Code 9027
This covers devices like polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, chromatographs, mass spectrometers, pH meters, etc.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has helped you to understand the HS codes for healthcare and life sciences products and how they can help you optimize your logistics and supply chain operations. Contact us if you need further assistance finding the correct HS codes for your products or any other logistic needs.
*sources: Harmonized Tariff Schedule (usitc.gov)
