Product classification

HS code for Household disinfectant: 3808.94

Disinfectants, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 in this Chapter, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles.

Classification of household disinfectant under HS 3808.94

Household disinfectants are classified under HS code 3808.94, which falls within Chapter 38 for miscellaneous chemical products. Heading 3808 covers a broad range of products including insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, and disinfectants. The classification under 3808.94 is specific to disinfectants that are put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles. To qualify for this code, the product must have the primary function of destroying or irreversibly inactivating bacteria, viruses, or fungi on inanimate surfaces. The classification depends on the active chemical ingredients and the packaging, which must indicate that the product is ready for end-user consumption in a household setting. These products are distinct from simple cleaning agents because they contain specific biocidal agents such as quaternary ammonium compounds, alcohols, or phenolic compounds designed to achieve a specific level of microbial reduction.

Covers
  • Liquid household disinfectants in retail bottles
  • Disinfectant sprays for domestic surface use
  • Disinfecting wipes pre-saturated with biocidal solutions
  • Aerosol disinfectant canisters for home air and surfaces
  • Concentrated disinfectant solutions for household dilution
Also under 3808.94
  • Lysol Disinfectant Spray
  • Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
  • Dettol Antiseptic Liquid
  • Purell Hand Sanitizer
  • Microban 24.

Codes often confused with 3808.94

Common mistake. A frequent error is classifying household disinfectants under HS code 3402.20, which covers surface-active preparations and cleaning preparations. While many disinfectants have cleaning properties, if the primary claim and active ingredient are for disinfection, 3808.94 takes precedence. Another common misclassification occurs with medicated soaps or skin cleansers, which fall under HS code 3401.11 or 3401.30, as these are intended for use on the body rather than inanimate surfaces. Furthermore, if the disinfectant contains specific hazardous chemicals listed in the Subheading Notes of Chapter 38, it might be moved to 3808.59, requiring careful chemical analysis.

3401.11Soap and organic surface-active products; in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products)3401.30Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap3808.59Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides and the like; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; not DDT (ISO) (clofenotane (INN)), put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

Top exporters and importers of HS 380894 (the code used for household disinfectant), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 380894 (the code used for household disinfectant) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 8.9% 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 380894, not only household disinfectant.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $497M
  2. 2 United States $445M
  3. 3 United Kingdom $332M

World total: $3.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $338M
  2. 2 France $232M
  3. 3 United States $229M

World total: $3.8B 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 household disinfectant

Brazil splits HS 3808.94 into 5 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 household disinfectant

What is the HS code for Household disinfectant?

The HS code for Household disinfectant is 380894 (Disinfectants; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 in this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles). The HS code for household disinfectant is 3808.94, covering disinfectants put up for retail sale.

How do I classify Household disinfectant for customs?

Household disinfectant is classified under HS code 380894 — Disinfectants; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 in this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are hand sanitizers classified under this HS code?

Generally, no. Hand sanitizers intended for use on the skin are often classified under HS code 3004 as medicaments or 3304 as cosmetic preparations, depending on local customs rulings and formulation.

Which countries are the top exporters of household disinfectant (HS 380894)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 380894 (the code used for household disinfectant) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($497M, 14% of world exports), the United States ($445M) and the United Kingdom ($332M). World exports came to about $3.5B, 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 household disinfectant (HS 380894)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 380894 (the code used for household disinfectant) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($338M, 8.9% of world imports), France ($232M) and the United States ($229M). World imports came to about $3.8B, 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 Household disinfectant the same in all countries?

The base HS code 380894 for Household disinfectant 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 household disinfectant in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 380894 into 5 NCM codes, so the right one for household disinfectant depends on the product's details: 3808.94.11 (Household disinfectants with bromo(chloro)methane), 3808.94.19 (Other household disinfectants), 3808.94.21 (Other disinfectants with bromo(chloro)methane), 3808.94.22 (2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole disinfectants), 3808.94.29 (Other disinfectants).