HS Code for Sterilizer

Sterilizers for medical, surgical, or laboratory use are classified under HS code 8419.20. Heading 8419 covers machinery, plant, or laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change of temperature such as heating, cooking, roasting, distilling, rectifying, sterilizing, pasteurizing, steaming, drying, evaporating, vaporizing, condensing or cooling. Subheading 8419.20 is specifically for medical, surgical, or laboratory sterilizers. These devices operate by using heat (steam or dry air) or chemical vapors to eliminate microorganisms from instruments or substances. The classification is restricted to professional-grade equipment; the code specifically excludes devices intended for domestic purposes. The primary criteria for this classification are the intended use environment (hospitals or labs) and the technical method of sterilization involving temperature change.

Products Included

• Hospital autoclaves for surgical instruments
• Steam sterilizers for laboratory glassware
• Dry heat sterilizers for medical clinics
• Ethylene oxide (ETO) gas sterilizers for medical use
• Large-scale dental instrument sterilizers

Common Misclassification

Sterilizers are often misclassified under 8419.81, which is for machinery used in the preparation of hot drinks or for cooking food. They are also sometimes confused with 9018.90 (medical instruments), but 8419.20 is the specific heading for the machinery that performs the sterilization. Another common error is classifying domestic bottle sterilizers here; those are typically classified under 8516.79 as electro-thermic domestic appliances. Finally, UV-light sterilizers that do not use heat may be classified under 8539.49.

FAQ

What is the HS code for Sterilizer?

The HS code for medical, surgical, or laboratory sterilizers is 8419.20.

Are domestic baby bottle sterilizers classified under 8419.20?

No, domestic-use sterilizers are excluded from this code and are generally classified under HS code 8516.79 as other electro-thermic appliances for domestic use.