Product classification
HS code for Medical sterilizer: 8419.20
Sterilizers, for medical, surgical or laboratory use, not used for domestic purposes.
Classification of medical sterilizer under HS 8419.20
Medical sterilizers are classified under HS code 8419.20. This heading is designated for machinery and laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change of temperature. Specifically, subheading 8419.20 is reserved for sterilizers used in medical, surgical, or laboratory environments. The classification is determined by the machine's primary function—eliminating microbial life through thermal or chemical means—rather than its status as a medical instrument. Because these devices operate through heat exchange, steam pressure, or temperature-controlled chemical cycles, they are grouped with other heating and cooling machinery in Chapter 84 rather than with medical tools in Chapter 90.
- Covers
- Steam autoclaves for surgical instruments
- Dry heat sterilizers for laboratory glassware
- Ethylene oxide (ETO) gas sterilizers
- Low-temperature plasma sterilizers
- Rapid heat transfer sterilizers
- Large-scale hospital central sterile supply department (CSSD) units
- Also under 8419.20
- Getinge (autoclaves)
- STERIS (steam sterilizers)
- Tuttnauer (benchtop autoclaves)
- Belimed (washer-disinfectors & sterilizers)
- Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) (plasma sterilizers)
Codes often confused with 8419.20
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification occurs under HS code 9018, which covers instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental, or veterinary sciences. While sterilizers are essential to surgery, they are considered general-purpose machinery for material treatment rather than direct surgical instruments. Additionally, importers sometimes mistakenly use 8419.89, which is a 'catch-all' for other heating equipment, but 8419.20 is the more specific and correct code for medical-grade units.
Top exporters and importers of HS 841920 (the code used for medical sterilizer), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 841920 (the code used for medical sterilizer) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% 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 841920, not only medical sterilizer.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $229M 19% of world exports
- 2 China $166M 14% of world exports
- 3 United States $124M 10% of world exports
World total: $1.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $238M 18% of world imports
- 2 Germany $57M 4.3% of world imports
- 3 China $49M 3.7% of world imports
World total: $1.3B 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 medical sterilizer
Brazil classifies medical sterilizer under NCM 8419.20.00: HS 8419.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about medical sterilizer
What is the HS code for Medical sterilizer?
The HS code for Medical sterilizer is 841920 (Sterilizers; for medical, surgical or laboratory use, not used for domestic purposes). The correct HS code for medical, surgical, or laboratory sterilizers is 8419.20.
How do I classify Medical sterilizer for customs?
Medical sterilizer is classified under HS code 841920 — Sterilizers; for medical, surgical or laboratory use, not used for domestic purposes. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include domestic pressure cookers?
No, domestic pressure cookers are classified under 7323 or 8516 depending on their power source; 8419.20 is strictly for professional medical or laboratory equipment.
Which countries are the top exporters of medical sterilizer (HS 841920)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 841920 (the code used for medical sterilizer) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($229M, 19% of world exports), China ($166M) and the United States ($124M). World exports came to about $1.2B, 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 medical sterilizer (HS 841920)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 841920 (the code used for medical sterilizer) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($238M, 18% of world imports), Germany ($57M) and China ($49M). World imports came to about $1.3B, 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 Medical sterilizer the same in all countries?
The base HS code 841920 for Medical sterilizer 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 medical sterilizer in Brazil?
In Brazil, medical sterilizer (HS 841920) is classified under NCM 8419.20.00.