Product classification
HS code for Sterilizer: 8419.20
Sterilizers, for medical, surgical or laboratory use, not used for domestic purposes.
Classification of sterilizer under HS 8419.20
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.
- Covers
- 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
- 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. 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.
Top exporters and importers of HS 841920 (the code used for sterilizer), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 841920 (the code used for 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 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 sterilizer
Brazil classifies 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 sterilizer
What is the HS code for Sterilizer?
The HS code for Sterilizer is 841920 (Sterilizers; for medical, surgical or laboratory use, not used for domestic purposes). The HS code for medical, surgical, or laboratory sterilizers is 8419.20.
How do I classify Sterilizer for customs?
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.
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.
Which countries are the top exporters of sterilizer (HS 841920)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 841920 (the code used for 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 sterilizer (HS 841920)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 841920 (the code used for 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 Sterilizer the same in all countries?
The base HS code 841920 for 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 sterilizer in Brazil?
In Brazil, sterilizer (HS 841920) is classified under NCM 8419.20.00.