Product classification
HS code for Microorganism cultures for medicine: 3002.41
Vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products, for human medicine.
Classification of microorganism cultures for medicine under HS 3002.41
Microorganism cultures intended for human medicine are classified under HS code 3002.41. This specific subheading was introduced to distinguish human vaccines and related biological products from those used in animals or for general research. The classification covers cultures of micro-organisms used as vaccines for human health, as well as toxins and similar products prepared for human therapeutic or prophylactic use. Under the Harmonized System, products in this category must be intended for the prevention or treatment of human diseases. This includes attenuated or killed viruses and bacteria used to stimulate an immune response. The classification is driven by the medical application and the regulatory standards required for human biological products, ensuring that these sensitive materials are correctly identified for customs and health safety protocols. It is important to note that this code applies to the active biological agent and its immediate preparation, rather than general laboratory reagents that do not contain the live or inactivated micro-organism itself.
- Covers
- Human vaccines (live, attenuated, or inactivated)
- Bacterial cultures for human therapeutic use
- Toxins used in the production of human medicine
- Viral cultures for human diagnostic applications
- Antigens used in human immunology
- Also under 3002.41
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
- AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine
- Gardasil (HPV vaccine)
- Fluzone (influenza vaccine)
- MMR-II (measles, mumps, rubella vaccine)
Codes often confused with 3002.41
Common mistake. Often confused with 3002.42, which is strictly for veterinary medicine. If a product is dual-use, the primary intended use or the packaging and labeling determines the code. It is also confused with 3002.90, which is for general cultures not prepared for medical use. Another common error is using 3006.30 for diagnostic reagents; however, if the reagent is a microbial culture, 3002.41 takes precedence due to its specific biological nature.
Top exporters and importers of HS 300241 (the code used for microorganism cultures for medicine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 300241 (the code used for microorganism cultures for medicine) in UN Comtrade data was Belgium, with 33% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 23% 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 300241, not only microorganism cultures for medicine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Belgium $14.1B 33% of world exports
- 2 Ireland $6.8B 16% of world exports
- 3 United States $5.2B 12% of world exports
World total: $42.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $9.5B 23% of world imports
- 2 Belgium $4.4B 11% of world imports
- 3 Germany $2.8B 6.9% of world imports
World total: $41.2B 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 microorganism cultures for medicine
Brazil splits HS 3002.41 into 18 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 3002.41.11Influenza vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.12Polio vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.13Hepatitis B vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.14Measles vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.15Meningitis vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.16MMR triple vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.17Other triple vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.18Anticatarrhal and antipyogenic vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.19Other human vaccines, in bulk
- 3002.41.21Influenza vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.22Polio vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.23Hepatitis B vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.24Measles vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.25Meningitis vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.26MMR triple vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.27Other triple vaccines, in doses or retail packs
- 3002.41.28Anticatarrhal, antipyogenic vaccines, dosed/retail
- 3002.41.29Other human vaccines, in doses or retail packs
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about microorganism cultures for medicine
What is the HS code for Microorganism cultures for medicine?
The HS code for Microorganism cultures for medicine is 300241 (Vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products; for human medicine).
How do I classify Microorganism cultures for medicine for customs?
Microorganism cultures for medicine is classified under HS code 300241 — Vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products; for human medicine. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for human vaccines?
Human vaccines are classified under HS code 3002.41, which covers vaccines, toxins, and cultures for human medicine.
Can research cultures be classified under 3002.41?
Only if they are specifically prepared and labeled for human medical application; otherwise, general research cultures fall under 3002.90.
Which countries are the top exporters of microorganism cultures for medicine (HS 300241)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 300241 (the code used for microorganism cultures for medicine) in UN Comtrade data were Belgium ($14.1B, 33% of world exports), Ireland ($6.8B) and the United States ($5.2B). World exports came to about $42.5B, 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 microorganism cultures for medicine (HS 300241)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 300241 (the code used for microorganism cultures for medicine) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($9.5B, 23% of world imports), Belgium ($4.4B) and Germany ($2.8B). World imports came to about $41.2B, 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.
Is the HS code for Microorganism cultures for medicine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 300241 for Microorganism cultures for 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 microorganism cultures for medicine in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 300241 into 18 NCM codes, so the right one for microorganism cultures for medicine depends on the product's details: 3002.41.11 (Influenza vaccines, in bulk), 3002.41.12 (Polio vaccines, in bulk), 3002.41.13 (Hepatitis B vaccines, in bulk), 3002.41.14 (Measles vaccines, in bulk), 3002.41.15 (Meningitis vaccines, in bulk), 3002.41.16 (MMR triple vaccines, in bulk), and more.