Brazil NCM · 8-digit code

NCM 3821.00.00 – Culture media for micro-organisms or cells

NCM 3821.00.00 (also written 38210000) is Brazil's code for culture media for micro-organisms or cells. Its first 6 digits are HS code 3821.00.

Official description of NCM 3821.00.00

PortuguêsOfficial
Meios de cultura preparados para o desenvolvimento e a manutenção de microrganismos (incluindo os vírus e os organismos similares) ou de células vegetais, humanas ou animais.
EnglishUnofficial translation

Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells

Nomenclatura Comum do Mercosul (Siscomex). Updated Oct 2026 · In force since Apr 2022 (Res Gecex 272/2021).

How to read NCM 3821.00.00

38Chapter 21Heading 00Subheading

HS code 3821.00
Same in every country

0Item 0Subitem

Added by Mercosur
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

The first 6 digits are the international HS code, so their meaning is the same in every country; Brazil publishes the text in Portuguese. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further. The full 8-digit code is used on import declarations (DUIMP), invoices (NF-e) and tax filings.

Full classification path

  1. Chapter 38 Chemical products n.e.c. Produtos diversos das indústrias químicas.
  2. Heading 38.21 Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells Meios de cultura preparados para o desenvolvimento e a manutenção de microrganismos (incluindo os vírus e os organismos similares) ou de células vegetais, humanas ou animais.
  3. Subheading 3821.00 Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells
  4. Subitem 3821.00.00 Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells Meios de cultura preparados para o desenvolvimento e a manutenção de microrganismos (incluindo os vírus e os organismos similares) ou de células vegetais, humanas ou animais.

Questions about NCM 3821.00.00

What is NCM 3821.00.00?

NCM 3821.00.00 (38210000) is the Brazilian (Mercosur) code for culture media for micro-organisms or cells. Its official Portuguese description is “Meios de cultura preparados para o desenvolvimento e a manutenção de microrganismos (incluindo os vírus e os organismos similares) ou de células vegetais, humanas ou animais.”.

What is the HS code for NCM 3821.00.00?

HS 3821.00 (Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells). The first 6 digits of an NCM code are its international HS code; the last 2 digits are Brazil's own split.

Is an NCM code the same as an HS code?

The first 6 digits are the same in every country. NCM adds an item digit (7th) and a subitem digit (8th). A code ending in 00 means Brazil does not split that HS code further.

Which countries use NCM 3821.00.00?

All Mercosur members use the same NCM codes: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Source: Siscomex Classif NCM table, updated Oct 2026 (Resolução Gecex nº 926/2026). The Portuguese text is the official one; the English is our translation.