What HS code do I use for vaccines?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
HS-2 · Chapter 30
HS chapter 30: Pharmaceutical products
Section VI — Products of the chemical or allied industries
Pharmaceutical products encompass a variety of goods used for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic purposes. For instance, a shipment of vaccines for human use falls under this chapter. Importers and exporters must carefully assess the specific product type to determine the correct HS-4 code.
To identify the appropriate HS-4 code, start by examining the product's characteristics and intended use. For example, if you have a mixture of medicaments in retail packaging, you would look at heading 3004. However, if the product is a bulk mixture not packaged for retail, heading 3003 may apply.
Next, consider the packaging and dosage forms. If your product is a bandage coated with a pharmaceutical substance, it would be classified under heading 3005. For human blood or blood products, heading 3002 is the right choice. Each heading has specific notes that clarify the distinctions, so review those details carefully.
Terms & reference phrasing
These are common trade terms used for this chapter. Use them as context, not as a substitute for legal wording.
pharmaceutical products · medicaments · vaccines · blood products · therapeutic uses · prophylactic uses · diagnostic uses · pharmaceutical substances · medical supplies · retail packaging · biotechnological products · human blood · animal blood · organ extracts · bandages · gauze · heparin
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Related topics
Longer phrases that come up when you're comparing codes or talking to a broker.
- HS code for pharmaceutical products
- classifying medicaments for trade
- importing vaccines and blood products
- understanding HS-3005 for bandages
- differences in pharmaceutical product classifications
- packaging requirements for medicaments
- how to find the right HS-4 code
- notes for HS-30 pharmaceutical products
Examples & common questions
Example products reflect typical trade descriptions. The questions below mirror practical doubts teams raise during filing.
Example products
- Vaccines for human use
- Medicaments in measured doses for retail sale
- Animal blood for diagnostic uses
- Gauze bandages coated with medicinal substances
- Heparin and its salts for therapeutic use
- Cultures of microorganisms for medical applications
- Mixed medicaments not in retail packaging
- Antisera for therapeutic use
Common classification questions
How to classify medicaments for export?
Confirm composition, processing stage, and end-use in your documents before mapping to country digits.
Is human blood classified under HS-30?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
What are the specific notes for HS-3004?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
How do I determine the right HS-4 code for bandages?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
Are there special regulations for importing pharmaceutical products?
Confirm composition, processing stage, and end-use in your documents before mapping to country digits.
Questions & answers
For orientation only—the binding text is your national tariff and the WCO nomenclature your country uses.
- What types of products are included in HS-30?
- HS-30 includes pharmaceutical products such as vaccines, medicaments, blood products, and medical supplies like bandages.
- How do I choose between HS-3003 and HS-3004?
- Select HS-3003 for bulk medicaments not in retail packaging, and HS-3004 for those in measured doses or retail packaging.
- Are there specific regulations for importing pharmaceutical products?
- Yes, importing pharmaceutical products often requires compliance with health regulations and may need special permits.
- What should I check for when classifying blood products?
- Review the intended use and packaging of the blood product to determine if it falls under HS-3002 for therapeutic or diagnostic uses.
- What is the significance of the notes under each HS-4 heading?
- The notes provide crucial details that clarify the distinctions between product types, helping you select the correct code.
All HS-4 headings in chapter 30 (6)
Each HS-4 links to a dedicated page with plain-English explanation, HS-6 subheadings, and FAQs. Use Browse to open the lookup in heading mode for that line.
3001
Glands and other organs (extracts, secretions thereof) for organo-therapeutic uses, dried, powdered or not; heparin and its salts; other human or animal substances for therapeutic or prophylactic uses n.e.c.
3002
Human blood; animal blood for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera, other blood fractions, immunological products, modified or obtained by biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) etc
3003
Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) of two or more constituents mixed together for therapeutic or prophylactic use not in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale
3004
Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic use, put up in measured doses (incl. those in the form of transdermal admin. systems) or packed for retail sale
3005
Wadding, gauze, bandages (dressings, adhesive plasters, poultices), impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances or in forms or packings for retail sale, for medical, surgical or veterinary use
3006
Pharmaceutical goods
Browse first heading (HS-4 3001)
Opens the lookup in heading browse for the first HS-4 block in this chapter (3001). Prefer the table above for a specific HS-4 page with full copy.
Before you file customs documents
Chapter pages on TradeTools are educational summaries, not legal classification determinations. Cross-check candidate codes with official notes, advance rulings where available, and your broker for high-value or borderline goods.
How we classify products explains what TradeTools does (and does not) automate.