Product classification

HS code for Medicated bandages: 3005.90

Wadding, gauze, bandages and similar articles, (excluding adhesive dressings), impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances, packaged for retail sale.

Classification of medicated bandages under HS 3005.90

Medicated bandages are classified under HS code 3005.90. This classification falls under Chapter 30 (Pharmaceutical Products) and heading 3005, which covers wadding, gauze, bandages, and similar articles. To qualify for this code, the bandages must be impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances or put up in forms or packings for retail sale for medical, surgical, dental, or veterinary purposes. The presence of an active medicinal ingredient—such as an antibiotic, an antiseptic, or a specialized healing agent—is the defining characteristic that separates these products from standard textile articles. The Harmonized System prioritizes the pharmaceutical function of the bandage over its textile composition.

Covers
  • Zinc paste bandages for venous ulcers
  • Gauze impregnated with antibiotics or antiseptics
  • Paraffin-coated gauze for burn dressings
  • Silver-impregnated antimicrobial bandages
  • Plaster of Paris bandages for orthopedic casts
  • Medicated dressings for chronic wound care
Also under 3005.90
  • Betadine Antiseptic Swabs
  • Aquacel Ag+ Extra (silver dressing)
  • Jelonet Paraffin Gauze
  • Mepilex Ag (silver foam dressing)
  • Bactigras Chlorhexidine Gauze

Codes often confused with 3005.90

Common mistake. The most common misclassification is HS code 3005.10, which is specifically for adhesive dressings and other articles having an adhesive layer. If the medicated bandage is not self-adhesive, it must be in 3005.90. Another error is classifying these items under Chapter 52 (Cotton) or Chapter 54 (Man-made filaments) based on the fabric type. However, the addition of pharmaceutical substances or retail packaging for medical use forces the classification into 3005.

3005.10Dressings, adhesive; and other articles having an adhesive layer, packed for retail sale for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes30.05Wadding, gauze, bandages (dressings, adhesive plasters, poultices), impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances or in forms or packings for retail sale, for medical, surgical or veterinary use

Top exporters and importers of HS 300590 (the code used for medicated bandages), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 300590 (the code used for medicated bandages) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, 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 300590, not only medicated bandages.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $1.3B
  2. 2 United States $587M
  3. 3 Netherlands $538M

World total: $5.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $906M
  2. 2 Germany $646M
  3. 3 Netherlands $333M

World total: $5.4B 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 medicated bandages

Brazil splits HS 3005.90 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 medicated bandages

What is the HS code for Medicated bandages?

The HS code for Medicated bandages is 300590 (Wadding, gauze, bandages and similar articles; (excluding adhesive dressings), impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances, packaged for retail sale). Medicated bandages that are not adhesive are classified under HS code 3005.90.

How do I classify Medicated bandages for customs?

Medicated bandages is classified under HS code 300590 — Wadding, gauze, bandages and similar articles; (excluding adhesive dressings), impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances, packaged for retail sale. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What makes a bandage "medicated" for HS purposes?

A bandage is considered medicated if it is impregnated or coated with a substance that has therapeutic or prophylactic properties, such as zinc, silver, or antibiotics.

Which countries are the top exporters of medicated bandages (HS 300590)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 300590 (the code used for medicated bandages) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.3B, 25% of world exports), the United States ($587M) and the Netherlands ($538M). World exports came to about $5.3B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of medicated bandages (HS 300590)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 300590 (the code used for medicated bandages) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($906M, 17% of world imports), Germany ($646M) and the Netherlands ($333M). World imports came to about $5.4B, 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 Medicated bandages the same in all countries?

The base HS code 300590 for Medicated bandages 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 medicated bandages in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 300590 into 5 NCM codes, so the right one for medicated bandages depends on the product's details: 3005.90.11 (Absorbable polyglycolic acid dressings), 3005.90.12 (Absorbable glycolic-lactic copolymer dressings), 3005.90.19 (Other absorbable dressings), 3005.90.20 (Nonwoven surgical drapes), 3005.90.90 (Other medical wadding, gauze and bandages).