EximDataX
Book demo

Chapter 90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories

32 headings · 143 six-digit codes · World Customs Organization Harmonized System

HS code 90 optical goods share a chapter with cameras, medical devices and measuring tools. Use this page to find your product family, then open the heading page for the exact code.

Chapter 90 is one of the widest in the nomenclature: 32 separate four-digit headings between 9001 and 9033, carrying 143 six-digit codes. 4 of the headings stop at a single code; the rest split further, the furthest being 9018 (Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences…). The chapter sits in Section XVIII, Optical, Photographic, Medical Instruments; Clocks, alongside 2 other chapters.

Headings in this chapter

9001Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables not of heading no. 8544; sheets, plates of polarising material; lenses, prisms, mirrors, of any material; unmounted; not non optical glass900110 to 900190e.g. 900110 — Optical fibres, optical fibre bundles and cables; excluding those of heading no. 85449002Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, other than such elements of glass not optically worked900211 to 900290e.g. 900211 — Lenses; objective, for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding glass not optically worked)9003Frames and mountings; for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts900311 to 900390e.g. 900311 — Frames and mountings; for spectacles, goggles or the like, of plastics9004Spectacles, goggles and the like; corrective, protective or other900410 to 900490e.g. 900410 — Sunglasses; corrective, protective or other9005Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, mountings therefore; other astronomical instruments, mountings therefore, but not including instruments for radio-astronomy900510 to 900590e.g. 900510 — Binoculars9006Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs other than discharge lamps of heading no. 8539900630 to 900699e.g. 900630 — Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); specially designed for underwater use, aerial survey, medical or surgical examination of internal organs; comparison cameras for forensic or criminological use9007Cinematographic cameras and projectors, whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatus900710 to 900792e.g. 900710 — Cameras, cinematographic; whether or not incorporating sound recording apparatus9008Image projectors, other than cinematographic; photographic (other than cinematographic) enlargers and reducers900850 to 900890e.g. 900850 — Image projectors, photographic enlargers and reducers, excluding cinematographic9010Photographic (including cinematographic) laboratory apparatus and equipment, n.e.c. in chapter 90; negatoscopes; projection screens901010 to 901090e.g. 901010 — Photographic laboratory apparatus and equipment; for automatically developing photographic (including cinematographic) film or paper in rolls or for automatically exposing developed film to rolls of paper9011Microscopes, compound optical; including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection901110 to 901190e.g. 901110 — Microscopes, compound optical; stereoscopic microscopes9012Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus901210 to 901290e.g. 901210 — Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus9013Lasers, other than laser diodes; other optical appliances and instruments n.e.c. in this chapter901310 to 901390e.g. 901310 — Optical appliances and instruments; telescopic sights for fitting to arms; periscopes; telescopes designed to form parts of machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of this chapter9014Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compasses901410 to 901490e.g. 901410 — Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compasses9015Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses, rangefinders901510 to 901590e.g. 901510 — Rangefinders9016Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weightse.g. 901600 — Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weights9017Drawing, marking-out, mathematical calculating instruments (drafting machines, protractors, drawing sets etc); instruments for measuring length (e.g. measuring rods, tapes, micrometers, callipers) n.e.c.901710 to 901790e.g. 901710 — Drafting tables and machines; whether or not automatic9018Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight testing instruments901811 to 901890e.g. 901811 — Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; electro-cardiographs9019Mechano-therapy, massage appliances; psychological aptitude testing apparatus; ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus901910 to 901920e.g. 901910 — Mechano-therapy appliances; massage apparatus and psychological aptitude-testing apparatus9020Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.20e.g. 902000 — Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.209021Orthopaedic appliances; including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other which are worn, carried or implanted in the body to compensate for a defect or disability902110 to 902190e.g. 902110 — Orthopaedic or fracture appliances9022Apparatus based on the use of x-rays or of alpha, beta, gamma or other ionising radiations, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, x-ray tubes and other x-ray generators, high tens902212 to 902290e.g. 902212 — Apparatus based on the use of x-rays; including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, computed tomography apparatus9023Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other usese.g. 902300 — Instruments, apparatus and models; designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other uses9024Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity of other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)902410 to 902490e.g. 902410 — Machines and appliances; for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity or other mechanical properties of metals9025Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, recording or not902511 to 902590e.g. 902511 — Thermometers and pyrometers; liquid filled, for direct reading, not combined with other instruments9026Instruments, apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure of liquids, gases (e.g. flow meters, heat meters etc), not instruments and apparatus of heading no. 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032902610 to 902690e.g. 902610 — Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking the flow or level of liquids9027Instruments and apparatus; for physical or chemical analysis (e.g. polarimeters, spectrometers), for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, etc, for measuring quantities of heat, sound or light902710 to 902790e.g. 902710 — Instruments and apparatus; gas or smoke analysis apparatus, for physical or chemical analysis9028Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters therefor902810 to 902890e.g. 902810 — Meters; gas, supply or production meters, including calibrating meters thereof9029Revolution counter, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like, speed indicators and tachometers, other than those of heading no. 9015, stroboscopes902910 to 902990e.g. 902910 — Meters and counters; revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like9030Instruments, apparatus for measuring, checking electrical quantities not meters of heading no. 9028; instruments, apparatus for measuring or detecting alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, cosmic and other radiations903010 to 903090e.g. 903010 — Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or detecting ionising radiations9031Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, n.e.c. or included in this chapter; profile projectors903110 to 903190e.g. 903110 — Machines; for balancing mechanical parts9032Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic type903210 to 903290e.g. 903210 — Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic type, thermostats9033Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90e.g. 903300 — Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90
Chapter 89All chaptersChapter 91

What HS Code 90 Covers

People also search for this group as HSN code chapter 90. It holds precision instruments of four main kinds: optical, photographic and cinematographic, medical and surgical, and measuring or control instruments. Parts and accessories are included too.

Optical items start with 9001, which covers optical fibres and unmounted lenses, prisms and mirrors. Spectacle lenses and frames are split across three headings. Unmounted spectacle lenses fall under 900140 for glass and 900150 for other materials. Frames and mountings sit in 9003, and finished spectacles, goggles and sunglasses sit in 9004. The same optical family includes binoculars and telescopes in 9005, compound microscopes in 9011, other microscopes in 9012, and lasers in 9013.

Cameras and projectors form a second family. Cinematographic cameras and projectors are in 9007. Image projectors and enlargers are in 9008, and darkroom and lab equipment is in 9010.

Medical, Surgical and Measuring Instruments

Medical and surgical instruments make up a large part of the chapter. Heading 9018 is the main one. It covers ultrasonic scanning apparatus (901812), magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (901813), syringes, needles, catheters and dental tools. Heading 9019 covers massage and therapy appliances. Heading 9020 covers breathing appliances and gas masks. Heading 9021 covers orthopaedic appliances, hearing aids and pacemakers (902150). Heading 9022 covers x-ray apparatus and other ionising radiation equipment.

The measuring and checking instruments are spread over many headings. Navigation tools are in 9014. Surveying tools are in 9015. Fine balances are in 9016. Material testing machines are in 9024. Thermometers and barometers are in 9025. Flow and pressure meters are in 9026. Counters and speed indicators are in 9029. Electrical measuring tools are in 9030. Other checking machines are in 9031. Automatic regulating and control devices are in 9032.

How to Find the Correct HS Code Under Chapter 90

Start with what the item does, not what it is made of. Then work through these common splits.

First, check whether an optical element is mounted. Once they are mounted as parts or fittings for an instrument, they go to 9002.

Second, check how a medical device works. Apparatus that uses x-rays or other ionising radiation goes to 9022.

Third, read the exclusions. Heading 9026 does not take the instruments of 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032.

Last, use 9033 only as a final step. It holds parts and accessories of this chapter that no other heading names. If you are unsure, try the HS code classifier before you file.

HS Code 90 Optical Import and Export Data

Once you know your code, you can see the trade behind it. EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries.

Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.

Use the import data and export data pages to start. The buyer data page helps if you sell optical or medical instruments and want to find importers.

Related Chapters in Section XVIII

Section XVIII also includes two nearby chapters. Chapter 92 covers musical instruments and their parts.

Related

Other chapters in Section XVIII

Optical, Photographic, Medical Instruments; Clocks covers chapters 90–92.

These codes carry real shipments.

EximDataX shows the live import–export records filed under Chapter 90: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.

See live data for Chapter 90
Straight answers

HS Chapter 90: common questions

What is the HS code for spectacle lenses and frames?

Unmounted spectacle lenses are 900140 for glass and 900150 for other materials. Frames and their parts are in heading 9003, and finished spectacles and sunglasses are in heading 9004.

Which HS code covers medical and surgical instruments?

Heading 9018 covers most medical, surgical, dental and veterinary instruments. This includes ultrasonic and MRI apparatus.

What is the difference between HS 9001 and 9002?

Heading 9001 is for optical elements that are not mounted.

How to find the correct HS code under chapter 90?

Decide what the item does, then compare nearby headings and read their exclusions. Use heading 9033 only for parts that no other heading in the chapter names. The HS code classifier can help you check.

What is the difference between HS 9018 and 9022?

Heading 9018 covers general medical, surgical, dental and veterinary tools. Heading 9022 is for apparatus based on x-rays or other ionising radiation.

See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.

Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.

Show me my buyersSee why we beat Volza & Import Genius
Free 3-day test account. No card on file. No funnel email sequence.