Product classification

HS code for Antibiotic medicine: 3004.20

Medicaments, containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale.

Classification of antibiotic medicine under HS 3004.20

Antibiotic medicine, when prepared for therapeutic or prophylactic uses and packaged for retail sale, is classified under Harmonized System (HS) code 300420. This code specifically covers "Medicaments; containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale." Chapter 30 of the HS nomenclature is dedicated to pharmaceutical products, and heading 3004 covers medicaments. The key elements for classification under 300420 are that the product is a prepared medicament, contains antibiotics (excluding specific types like penicillins and streptomycins which have their own subheadings), is intended for medical use, and crucially, is put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale. This distinction separates finished pharmaceutical products from bulk active ingredients.

Covers
  • Tablets containing macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin) for retail sale
  • Capsules containing tetracycline antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) packaged for consumers
  • Oral suspensions or syrups containing cephalosporin antibiotics (e.g., cefalexin) in retail packs
  • Injectable antibiotic preparations (excluding penicillins/streptomycins) in pre-filled syringes for retail
  • Topical antibiotic creams or ointments (excluding penicillins/streptomycins) in retail packaging
Also under 3004.20
  • Zithromax
  • Cipro
  • Vibramycin
  • Keflex
  • Flagyl
  • Vancocin

Codes often confused with 3004.20

Common mistake. Common misclassifications for antibiotic medicine under 300420 often involve other subheadings within Chapter 30 or Chapter 29. For instance, HS 300410 covers medicaments containing penicillins or streptomycins, which are explicitly excluded from 300420. A significant point of confusion is with HS 2941, which covers "Antibiotics" in their unmixed, bulk form (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients or APIs). If the antibiotic is not yet formulated into a medicament or packaged for retail, it belongs to 2941. Similarly, HS 3003 covers medicaments not put up in measured doses or for retail sale; if the antibiotic preparation is in bulk for further processing, it might fall under 3003 rather than 300420. The "packaged for retail sale" criterion is paramount for 300420.

3004.10Medicaments; containing penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale29.41Antibiotics30.03Medicaments; (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

Top exporters and importers of HS 300420 (the code used for antibiotic medicine), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 300420 (the code used for antibiotic medicine) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 13% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Figures cover everything classified under HS 300420, not only antibiotic medicine.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Italy $2.0B
  2. 2 Switzerland $1.5B
  3. 3 United States $1.2B

World total: $14.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $1.9B
  2. 2 China $1.4B
  3. 3 Switzerland $1.3B

World total: $15.4B 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 codes for antibiotic medicine

Brazil splits HS 3004.20 into 26 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 3004.20.11Chloramphenicol medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.19Other amphenicol medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.21Erythromycin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.29Other macrolide medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.31Rifamycin SV sodium medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.32Rifampicin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.39Other ansamycin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.41Lincomycin hydrochloride medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.49Other lincosamide medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.51Cefalotin sodium medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.52Cefaclor or cefalexin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.59Other cephalosporin/cephamycin drugs, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.61Gentamicin sulphate medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.62Daunorubicin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.63Idarubicin/pirarubicin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.69Other aminoglycoside medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.71Vancomycin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.72Actinomycin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.73Ciclosporin A medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.79Other polypeptide antibiotic drugs, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.91Mitomycin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.92Tiamulin fumarate medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.93Bleomycin medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.94Imipenem medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.95Liposomal amphotericin B medicaments, dosed/retail
  • 3004.20.99Other antibiotic medicaments, dosed/retail

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about antibiotic medicine

What is the HS code for Antibiotic medicine?

The HS code for Antibiotic medicine is 300420 (Medicaments; containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale). The HS code for antibiotic medicine, specifically those containing antibiotics other than penicillins or streptomycins, prepared for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, and packaged for retail sale, is 300420. This code is found in Chapter 30, which pertains to pharmaceutical products.

How do I classify Antibiotic medicine for customs?

Antibiotic medicine is classified under HS code 300420 — Medicaments; containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What is the significance of 'packaged for retail sale' in this classification?

The phrase 'packaged for retail sale' is crucial because it distinguishes finished pharmaceutical products, ready for direct use by consumers or patients, from bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or intermediate preparations. Products classified under 300420 are typically in their final dosage form and packaging, intended for distribution through pharmacies or healthcare providers to end-users.

Which countries are the top exporters of antibiotic medicine (HS 300420)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 300420 (the code used for antibiotic medicine) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($2.0B, 14% of world exports), Switzerland ($1.5B) and the United States ($1.2B). World exports came to about $14.4B, 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 antibiotic medicine (HS 300420)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 300420 (the code used for antibiotic medicine) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.9B, 13% of world imports), China ($1.4B) and Switzerland ($1.3B). World imports came to about $15.4B, 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.

Is the HS code for Antibiotic medicine the same in all countries?

The base HS code 300420 for Antibiotic medicine is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.

What is the NCM code for antibiotic medicine in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 300420 into 26 NCM codes, so the right one for antibiotic medicine depends on the product's details: 3004.20.11 (Chloramphenicol medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.19 (Other amphenicol medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.21 (Erythromycin medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.29 (Other macrolide medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.31 (Rifamycin SV sodium medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.32 (Rifampicin medicaments, dosed/retail), and more.