HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 3002.51 – Cell cultures, whether or not modified; cell therapy products
HS code 3002.51 is the 6-digit subheading for cell cultures, whether or not modified, cell therapy products. It is used for human mesenchymal stem cells, CAR-T cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), fibroblast cell lines and therapeutic cell lines.
What HS 3002.51 covers
This HS code specifically covers cell cultures, whether or not modified, and cell therapy products. This represents a cutting-edge and rapidly expanding segment of the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on advanced therapies that use living cells to treat diseases. Products range from human mesenchymal stem cells and CAR-T cells for cancer treatment to various cell lines used in drug discovery and regenerative medicine research. International trade in these highly sensitive biological products demands extremely specialized logistics, including ultra-cold chain management, and stringent regulatory compliance, particularly for therapeutic applications (e.g., FDA, EMA approvals). Importers and exporters include biopharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturing organizations, hospitals, and research institutions, all navigating complex ethical and safety considerations.
- Covers
- Human mesenchymal stem cells
- CAR-T cells
- Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
- Fibroblast cell lines
- Therapeutic cell lines
- Hematopoietic stem cells
- Chondrocyte cultures
- Examples
- Kymriah (Novartis CAR-T therapy)
- Yescarta (Gilead CAR-T therapy)
- specific cell lines from Lonza
- Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies
- Thermo Fisher Scientific cell culture media
Codes often confused with 3002.51
Common mistake. This code could be confused with other biological products like blood fractions (3002.12) or even tissues for transplantation, though the latter are typically classified differently.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 300251, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 300251 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 43% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 15% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $1.1B 43% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $804M 31% of world exports
- 3 Germany $244M 9.3% of world exports
World total: $2.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $305M 15% of world imports
- 2 Japan $285M 14% of world imports
- 3 France $235M 12% of world imports
World total: $2.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for 3002.51
Brazil does not split HS 3002.51: its NCM code is 3002.51.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 30.02 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 3002.51
What is HS code 300251?
HS code 300251 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Cell cultures, whether or not modified; cell therapy products. This HS code specifically covers cell cultures, whether or not modified, and cell therapy products. This represents a cutting-edge and rapidly expanding segment of the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on advanced therapies that use living cells to treat diseases. Products range from human mesenchymal stem cells and CAR-T cells for cancer treatment to various cell lines used in drug discovery and regenerative medicine research. International trade in these highly sensitive biological products demands extremely specialized logistics, including ultra-cold chain management, and stringent regulatory compliance, particularly for therapeutic applications (e.g., FDA, EMA approvals). Importers and exporters include biopharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturing organizations, hospitals, and research institutions, all navigating complex ethical and safety considerations.
What products fall under HS code 300251?
Human mesenchymal stem cells, CAR-T cells, Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), Fibroblast cell lines, Therapeutic cell lines, Hematopoietic stem cells, Chondrocyte cultures
What are common misclassifications for HS code 300251?
This code could be confused with other biological products like blood fractions (3002.12) or even tissues for transplantation, though the latter are typically classified differently.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 300251?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 300251 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.1B, 43% of world exports), the Netherlands ($804M) and Germany ($244M). World exports came to about $2.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 300251?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 300251 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($305M, 15% of world imports), Japan ($285M) and France ($235M). World imports came to about $2.0B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 300251 structured?
HS code 300251 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (30) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (02) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (51) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 300251?
In Brazil, HS code 300251 is NCM 3002.51.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.