Product classification

HS code for Bulk medicaments: 3003.90

Medicaments, (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale).

Classification of bulk medicaments under HS 3003.90

HS code 300390 is a residual subheading under heading 3003, which covers medicaments consisting of two or more constituents mixed together for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale. Specifically, 300390 applies to medicaments that do not contain penicillins, streptomycins, other antibiotics, hormones, insulin, or alkaloids or their derivatives. This makes it a \"catch-all\" for bulk medicaments that do not fit into the more specific subheadings of 3003. The \"not packaged for retail sale\" condition is paramount, indicating bulk or intermediate forms intended for further manufacturing or professional dispensing rather than direct consumer purchase.

Covers
  • Bulk vitamin preparations (if considered medicaments)
  • Certain cough syrups or pain relievers in bulk form
  • Saline solutions for medical use (if mixed)
  • Various other compounded pharmaceutical preparations intended for further processing or professional dispensing, provided they meet the criteria of not containing the excluded substances and not being packaged for retail sale
Also under 3003.90
  • Tylenol (bulk API)
  • Advil (bulk API)
  • Glucophage (bulk API)
  • Prilosec (bulk API)
  • Zocor (bulk API)

Codes often confused with 3003.90

Common mistake. 300490: This code is for \"Medicaments; (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale\". The key difference is the retail packaging and measured doses. Products under 300490 are ready for direct consumer use, while 300390 covers bulk forms. 300310, 300320, 300331, 300339, 300341, 300342, 300343, 300349: These are other subheadings under 3003 that cover medicaments containing specific active ingredients (e.g., penicillins, hormones, insulin, alkaloids). Misclassification occurs if a bulk medicament containing one of these specific ingredients is incorrectly placed in 300390, which is explicitly for those not containing them.

3004.90Medicaments; consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale3003.10Medicaments; containing penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale)3003.20Medicaments; containing antibiotics other than penicillins, streptomycins and their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale)3003.31Medicaments; containing insulin, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale3003.39Medicaments; containing hormones (excluding insulin), (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale3003.41Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)3003.42Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing pseudoephedrine (INN) or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)3003.43Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing norephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)3003.49Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives; other than ephedrine, pseudoephedrine (INN) or norephedrine or their salts; for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)30.03Medicaments; (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 300390 (the code used for bulk medicaments), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 300390 (the code used for bulk medicaments) in UN Comtrade data was Portugal, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Saudi Arabia, with 17% 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 300390, not only bulk medicaments.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Portugal $3.6B
  2. 2 Belgium $996M
  3. 3 United States $915M

World total: $12.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Saudi Arabia $2.2B
  2. 2 United States $1.9B
  3. 3 Germany $1.4B

World total: $12.9B 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 bulk medicaments

Brazil splits HS 3003.90 into 75 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

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

Questions about bulk medicaments

What is the HS code for Bulk medicaments?

The HS code for Bulk medicaments is 300390 (Medicaments; (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)). The Harmonized System (HS) code for bulk medicaments that do not contain specific active ingredients like antibiotics, hormones, or alkaloids, and are not packaged for retail sale, is 300390.

How do I classify Bulk medicaments for customs?

Bulk medicaments is classified under HS code 300390 — Medicaments; (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What types of active ingredients are excluded from HS 300390?

HS 300390 specifically excludes medicaments containing penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives (covered by 300310), other antibiotics (300320), hormones (300331, 300339), and alkaloids or their derivatives (300341, 300342, 300343, 300349). If a bulk medicament contains any of these substances, it would be classified under the respective specific subheading within heading 3003.

Which countries are the top exporters of bulk medicaments (HS 300390)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 300390 (the code used for bulk medicaments) in UN Comtrade data were Portugal ($3.6B, 28% of world exports), Belgium ($996M) and the United States ($915M). World exports came to about $12.7B, 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 bulk medicaments (HS 300390)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 300390 (the code used for bulk medicaments) in UN Comtrade data were Saudi Arabia ($2.2B, 17% of world imports), the United States ($1.9B) and Germany ($1.4B). World imports came to about $12.9B, 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 Bulk medicaments the same in all countries?

The base HS code 300390 for Bulk medicaments 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 bulk medicaments in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 300390 into 75 NCM codes, so the right one for bulk medicaments depends on the product's details: 3003.90.11 (Calcium folinate medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.12 (Nicotinamide medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.13 (Hydroxo-/cyanocobalamin medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.14 (Vitamin A (retinol) medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.15 (Calcium D-pantothenate or vitamin D3 drugs, bulk), 3003.90.16 (High-potency vitamin A/D3 ester drugs, bulk), and more.