Product classification
HS code for Pharmaceutical waste: 3006.92
Pharmaceutical goods, waste pharmaceuticals.
Classification of pharmaceutical waste under HS 3006.92
Pharmaceutical waste is classified under HS code 3006.92. This specific subheading was established to cover pharmaceutical products that are no longer fit for their intended purpose. This includes medicines that have exceeded their expiry date, products that have been contaminated due to improper storage, or batches that have failed quality control standards. The classification falls under Chapter 30 (Pharmaceutical products) because the waste originates from these goods, but it is distinguished from functional medicaments to ensure proper regulatory oversight during cross-border transport and disposal. This code is essential for environmental compliance and the tracking of hazardous chemical waste.
- Covers
- Expired prescription medications
- Contaminated vaccines or sera
- Discarded retail medicines
- Unusable bulk pharmaceutical ingredients
- Outdated veterinary medicines
- Also under 3006.92
- Hospital pharmaceutical waste
- pharmaceutical manufacturing plant waste
- pharmacy returns
- household drug take-back waste
- veterinary pharmaceutical waste
Codes often confused with 3006.92
Common mistake. Pharmaceutical waste is often misclassified under HS code 3825.41 (waste organic solvents) or 3825.90 (other residual products of the chemical industry). While these codes cover general chemical waste, 3006.92 is the specific and preferred code for waste that was originally manufactured as a pharmaceutical product. It is also sometimes incorrectly declared under 3004.90, which is reserved for functional medicaments intended for therapeutic use, leading to potential legal issues regarding the shipment of "expired goods" as "products."
Top exporters and importers of HS 300692 (the code used for pharmaceutical waste), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 300692 (the code used for pharmaceutical waste) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 46% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Bulgaria, with 31% 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 300692, not only pharmaceutical waste.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $7.8M 46% of world exports
- 2 Canada $5.6M 33% of world exports
- 3 Spain $1.4M 8.5% of world exports
World total: $17M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Bulgaria $7.2M 31% of world imports
- 2 United States $5.3M 23% of world imports
- 3 Georgia $2.9M 12% of world imports
World total: $23M 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 pharmaceutical waste
Brazil classifies pharmaceutical waste under NCM 3006.92.00: HS 3006.92 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about pharmaceutical waste
What is the HS code for Pharmaceutical waste?
The HS code for Pharmaceutical waste is 300692 (Pharmaceutical goods; waste pharmaceuticals). The HS code for pharmaceutical waste is 3006.92, which specifically identifies pharmaceutical goods that are unfit for their original intended use.
How do I classify Pharmaceutical waste for customs?
Pharmaceutical waste is classified under HS code 300692 — Pharmaceutical goods; waste pharmaceuticals. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include medical equipment waste?
No, medical equipment waste like used syringes or bandages is typically classified under HS code 3825.30 (clinical waste), not 3006.92.
Which countries are the top exporters of pharmaceutical waste (HS 300692)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 300692 (the code used for pharmaceutical waste) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($7.8M, 46% of world exports), Canada ($5.6M) and Spain ($1.4M). World exports came to about $17M, 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 pharmaceutical waste (HS 300692)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 300692 (the code used for pharmaceutical waste) in UN Comtrade data were Bulgaria ($7.2M, 31% of world imports), the United States ($5.3M) and Georgia ($2.9M). World imports came to about $23M, 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 Pharmaceutical waste the same in all countries?
The base HS code 300692 for Pharmaceutical waste 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 pharmaceutical waste in Brazil?
In Brazil, pharmaceutical waste (HS 300692) is classified under NCM 3006.92.00.