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Section XVIII › Chapter 90

Chapter 90
Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus; Parts and Accessories Thereof

Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus; Parts and Accessories Thereof

Notes

1.

This Chapter does not cover the following:

(a)

articles of a kind used in machines, appliances or for other technical uses, of vulcanised rubber (excluding hard rubber) (heading 40.16), of leather or of composition leather (heading 42.05) or of textile material (heading 59.11);

(b)

supporting belts or other support articles of textile material, whose intended effect on the organ to be supported or held derives solely from their elasticity (for example, maternity belts, thoracic support bandages, abdominal support bandages, supports for joints or muscles) (Section XI);

(c)

refractory goods of heading 69.03; ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, of heading 69.09;

(d)

glass mirrors, not optically worked, of heading 70.09, or mirrors of base metal or of precious metal, not being optical elements (heading 83.06 or Chapter 71);

(e)

goods of heading 70.07, 70.08, 70.11, 70.14, 70.15 or 70.17;

(f)

parts of general use, as defined in Note 2 to Section XV, of base metal (Section XV) or similar goods of plastics (Chapter 39); however, articles specially designed for use exclusively in implants in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences are to be classified in heading 90.21;

(g)

pumps incorporating measuring devices, of heading 84.13; masspiece-operated counting or checking machinery, or separately presented masspieces for balances (heading 84.23); lifting or handling machinery (headings 84.25 to 84.28); paper or paperboard cutting machines of all kinds (heading 84.41); fittings for adjusting work or tools on machine-tools or water-jet cutting machines, of heading 84.66, including fittings with optical devices for reading the scale (for example, "optical" dividing heads) but not those which are in themselves essentially optical instruments (for example, alignment telescopes); calculating machines (heading 84.70); valves or other applicances of heading 84.81; machines and apparatus (including apparatus for the projection or drawing of circuit patterns on sensitised semiconductor materials) of heading 84.86;

(h)

searchlights or spotlights of a kind used for cycles or motor vehicles (heading 85.12); portable electric lamps of heading 85.13; cinematographic sound recording, reproducing or re-recording apparatus (heading 85.19); sound-heads (heading 85.22); television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders (heading 85.25); radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus or radio remote control apparatus (heading 85.26); connectors for optical fibres, optical fibre bundles or cables (heading 85.36); numerical control apparatus of heading 85.37; sealed beam lamp units of heading 85.39; optical fibre cables of heading 85.44;

(ij)

searchlights or spotlights of heading 94.05;

(k)

articles of Chapter 95;

(l)

monopods, bipods, tripods and similar articles, of heading 96.20;

(m)

capacity measures, which are to be classified according to their constituent material; or

(n)

spools, reels or similar supports (which are to be classified according to their constituent material, for example, in heading 39.23 or Section XV).

2.

Subject to Note 1 above, parts and accessories for machines, apparatus, instruments or articles of this Chapter are to be classified according to the following rules:

(a)

parts and accessories which are goods included in any of the headings of this Chapter or of Chapter 84, 85 or 91 (excluding heading 84.87, 85.48 or 90.33) are in all cases to be classified in their respective headings;

(b)

other parts and accessories, if suitable for use solely or principally with a particular kind of machine, instrument or apparatus or with a number of machines, instruments or apparatus of the same heading (including a machine, instrument or apparatus of heading 90.10, 90.13 or 90.31) are to be classified with the machines, instruments or apparatus of that kind;

(c)

all other parts and accessories are to be classified in heading 90.33.

3.

The provisions of Notes 3 and 4 to Section XVI apply also to this Chapter.

4.

Heading 90.05 does not apply to telescopic sights for fitting to arms, periscopic telescopes for fitting to submarines or tanks, or the telescopes for machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of this Chapter or Section XVI; such telescopic sights and telescopes are to be classified in heading 90.13.

5.

Measuring or checking optical instruments, appliances or machines which, but for this Note, could be classified both in heading 90.13 and in heading 90.31 are to be classified in heading 90.31.

6.

For the purposes of heading 90.21, the expression "orthopaedic appliances" means appliances for: - preventing or correcting bodily deformities; or

- supporting or holding parts of the body following an illness, operation or injury.

Orthopaedic appliances include footwear and special insoles designed to correct orthopaedic conditions, provided they are either (1) made to measure or (2) mass-produced, presented singly and not in pairs and designed to fit either foot equally.

7.

Heading 90.32 applies only to:

(a)

instruments and apparatus for automatically controlling the flow, level, pressure or other variables of liquids or gases, or for automatically controlling temperature, whether or not their operation depends on an electrical phenomenon which varies according to the factor to be automatically controlled, which are designed to bring this factor to, and maintain it at, a desired value, stabilised against disturbances, by constantly or periodically measuring its actual value; and

(b)

automatic regulators of electrical quantities, and instruments or apparatus for automatically controlling non-electrical quantities the operation of which depends on an electrical phenomenon varying according to the factor to be controlled, which are designed to bring this factor to, and maintain it at, a desired value, stabilised against disturbances, by constantly or periodically measuring its actual value.

Rates as at 15 September 2026
HeadingCDDescriptionUnitGeneralEUEFTASADCMERCOSURAfCFTA
90.01Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables (excluding those of heading 85.44); sheets and plates of polarising material; lenses (including contact lenses), prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, unmounted (excluding such elements of glass not optically worked):
9001.10.1Optical fibre:
9001.10.215Of glasskg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.355Containing metal casingkg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.398Otherkg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.193Otherkg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.258Of plastickg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.312Not containing metalkg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.118Of glasskg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.2Optical fibre bundles:
9001.10Optical fibres, optical fibre bundles and cables:
9001.10.3Optical fibre cables:
9001.10.150Of plastickg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.10.290Otherkg15%freefreefree15%6%
9001.207Sheets and plates of polarising materialkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9001.301Contact lensesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9001.406Spectacle lenses of glassufreefreefreefreefreefree
9001.500Spectacle lenses of other materialsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9001.909Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.02Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted, being parts of or fittings for instruments or apparatus (excluding such elements of glass not optically worked):
9002.1Objective lenses:
9002.112For cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducerskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9002.193Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9002.200Filterskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9002.902Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.03Frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts thereof:
9003.1Frames and mountings:
9003.116Of plasticsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9003.197Of other materialsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9003.906Partskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.04Spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective, protective or other:
9004.103Sunglassesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9004.900Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
90.05Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, and mountings therefor; other astronomical instruments and mountings therefor, but not including instruments for radio- astronomy:
9005.107Binocularsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9005.809Other instrumentsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9005.903Parts and accessories (including mountings)kgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.06Photographic (excluding cinematographic) cameras; photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs (excluding discharge lamps of heading 85.39):
9006.302Cameras specially designed for underwater use, for aerial survey or for medical or surgical examination of internal organs; comparison cameras for forensic or criminological purposesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.404Instant print camerasufreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.5Other cameras:
9006.538For roll film of a width of 35 mmufreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.596Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.6Photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs:
9006.610Discharge lamp ("electronic") flashlight apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.690Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.9Parts and accessories:
9006.913For cameraskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9006.994Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.07Cinematographic cameras and projectors, whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatus:
9007.104Camerasufreefreefreefreefreefree
9007.209Projectorsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9007.9Parts and accessories:
9007.917For cameraskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9007.923For projectorskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.08Image projectors (excluding cinematographic); photographic (excluding cinematographic) enlargers and reducers:
9008.506Projectors, enlargers and reducersufreefreefreefreefreefree
9008.904Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.10Apparatus and equipment for photographic (including cinematographic) laboratories, not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter; negatoscopes; projection screens:
9010.101Apparatus and equipment for automatically developing photographic (including cinematographic) film or paper in rolls or for automatically exposing developed film to rolls of photographic paperufreefreefreefreefreefree
9010.504Other apparatus and equipment for photographic (including cinematographic) laboratories; negatoscopesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9010.604Projection screensufreefreefreefreefreefree
9010.908Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.11Compound optical microscopes, including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection:
9011.105Stereoscopic microscopesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9011.205Other microscopes, for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojectionufreefreefreefreefreefree
9011.807Other microscopesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9011.901Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.12Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus:
9012.109Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9012.905Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.13Lasers (excluding laser diodes); other optical appliances and instruments, not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter:
9013.102Telescopic sights for fitting to arms; periscopes; telescopes, designed to form parts of machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of this Chapter or Section XVIufreefreefreefreefreefree
9013.207Lasers (excluding laser diodes)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9013.804Other devices, appliances and instrumentsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9013.909Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.14Direction finding compasses; other navigational instruments and appliances:
9014.106Direction finding compassesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9014.200Instruments and appliances for aeronautical or space navigation (excluding compasses)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9014.808Other instruments and appliancesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9014.902Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.15Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances (excluding compasses); rangefinders:
9015.103Rangefindersufreefreefreefreefreefree
9015.204Theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9015.309Levelsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9015.403Photogrammetrical surveying instruments and applianceskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9015.801Other instruments and appliancesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9015.906Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9016.009Balances of a sensitivity of 50 mg or better, with or without masspieceskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.17Drawing, marking-out or mathematical calculating instruments (for example, drafting machines, pantographs, protractors, drawing sets, slide rules, disc calculators); instruments for measuring length, for use in the hand (for example, measuring rods and tapes, micrometers, callipers), not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter:
9017.107Drafting tables and machines, whether or not automaticufreefreefreefreefreefree
9017.201Other drawing, making-out or mathematical calculating instrumentsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9017.306Micrometers, callipers and gaugesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9017.809Other instrumentsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9017.903Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.18Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments:
9018.1Electro-diagnostic apparatus (including apparatus for functional exploratory examination or for checking physiological parameters):
9018.117Electro-cardiographsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.123Ultrasonic scanning apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.130Magnetic resonance imaging apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.146Scintigraphic apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.198Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.205Ultra-violet or infra-red ray apparatuskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.3Syringes, needles, catheters, cannulae and the like:
9018.31Syringes, with or without needles:
9018.31.405Disposable hypodermic syringes of plasticsu20%freefreefree18%8%
9018.32Tubular metal needles and needles for sutures:
9018.32.207Hypodermic needles, including dental injection needles, with hubskg15%freefreefree13,5%6%
9018.31.901Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.32.908Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.397Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.4Other instruments and appliances, used in dental sciences:
9018.410Dental drill engines, whether or not combined on a single base with other dental equipmentkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.491Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.509Other ophthalmic instruments and applianceskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9018.907Other instruments and appliancesufreefreefreefreefreefree
90.19Mechano-therapy appliances; massage apparatus; psychological aptitude-testing apparatus; ozone therapy, oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus:
9019.104Mechano-therapy appliances; massage apparatus; psychological aptitude-testing apparatuskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9019.209Ozone therapy, oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatuskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9020.006Other breathing appliances and gas masks (excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters)kgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.21Orthopaedic appliances, including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other appliances which are worn or carried, or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability:
9021.108Orthopaedic or fracture applianceskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.2Artificial teeth and dental fittings:
9021.219Artificial teethkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.291Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.3Other artificial parts of the body:
9021.313Artificial jointskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.394Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.401Hearing aids (excluding parts and accessories)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.506Pacemakers for stimulating heart muscles (excluding parts and accessories)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9021.904Otherkgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.22Apparatus based on the use of X-rays or of alpha, beta or 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 tension generators, control panels and desks, screens, examination or treatment tables, chairs and the like:
9022.1Apparatus based on the use of X-rays, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus:
9022.124Computed tomography apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.130Other, for dental usesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.147Other, for medical surgical or veterinary usesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.199For other usesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.2Apparatus based on the use of alpha, beta or gamma or other ionising radiations, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus:
9022.212For medical, surgical, dental or veterinary usesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.293For other usesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.300X-ray tubesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9022.908Other, including parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9023.000Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (for example, in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other useskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.24Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity or other mechanical properties of materials (for example, metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics):
9024.109Machines and appliances for testing metalsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9024.800Other machines and appliancesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9024.905Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.25Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, recording or not, and any combination of these instruments:
9025.1Thermometers and pyrometers, not combined with other instruments:
9025.119Liquid-filled, for direct readingufreefreefreefreefreefree
9025.199Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9025.804Other instrumentsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9025.909Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.26Instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure or other variables of liquids or gases (for example, flow meters, level gauges, manometers, heat meters) (excluding instruments and apparatus of heading 90.14, 90.15, 90.28 or 90.32):
9026.106For measuring or checking the flow or level of liquidsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9026.200For measuring or checking pressureufreefreefreefreefreefree
9026.808Other instruments and apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9026.902Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.27Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis (for example, polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, gas or smoke analysis apparatus); instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or the like; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking quantities of heat, sound or light (including exposure meters); microtomes:
9027.101Gas or smoke analysis apparatusufreefreefreefreefreefree
9027.204Chromatographs and electrophoresis instrumentsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9027.309Spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9027.508Other instruments and apparatus using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9027.8Other instruments and apparatus:
9027.818Mass spectrometersufreefreefreefreefreefree
9027.899Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9027.906Microtomes, parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.28Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters therefor:
9028.103Gas metersufreefreefreefreefreefree
9028.20Liquid meters:
9028.20.105Mechanical water supply meters, designed for use with pipes with an inside diameter not exceeding 40 mmu10%freefreefree10%4%
9028.20.903Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9028.302Electricity metersufreefreefreefreefreefree
9028.906Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.29Revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like; speed indicators and tachometers (excluding those of heading 90.14 or 90.15); stroboscopes:
9029.107Revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the likeufreefreefreefreefreefree
9029.201Speed indicators and tachometers; stroboscopesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9029.903Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.30Oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers and other instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking electrical quantities (excluding meters of heading 90.28); instruments and apparatus for measuring or detecting alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray, cosmic or other ionising radiations:
9030.107Instruments and apparatus for measuring or detecting ionising radiationsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.201Oscilloscopes and oscillographsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.3Other instruments and apparatus, for measuring or checking voltage, current, resistance or power (excluding those for measuring or checking semiconductor wafers or devices):
9030.312Multimeters without a recording deviceufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.329Multimeters with a recording devicekgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.335Other, without a recording deviceufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.393Other, with a recording deviceufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.400Other instruments and apparatus, specially designed for telecommunications (for example, cross-talk meters, gain measuring instruments, distortion factor meters, psophometers)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.8Other instruments and apparatus:
9030.821For measuring or checking semiconductor wafers or devices (including integrated circuits)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.844Other, with a recording deviceufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.896Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9030.903Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.31Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter; profile projectors:
9031.100Machines for balancing mechanical partsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9031.205Test benchesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9031.4Other optical instruments and appliances:
9031.410For inspecting semiconductor wafers or devices (including integrated circuits) or for inspecting photomasks or reticles used in manufacturing semiconductor devices (including integrated circuits)ufreefreefreefreefreefree
9031.491Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9031.802Other instruments, appliances and machinesufreefreefreefreefreefree
9031.907Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
90.32Automatic regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus:
9032.10Thermostats:
9032.10.101Identifiable for use solely or principally with electro-thermic domestic appliances (excluding those of which the operation depends on an electrical phenomenon which varies according to the factor to be ascertained or automatically controlled)u10%freefreefree5%4%
9032.10.901Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9032.209Manostatsufreefreefreefreefreefree
9032.8Other instruments and apparatus:
9032.812Hydraulic or pneumaticufreefreefreefreefreefree
9032.893Otherufreefreefreefreefreefree
9032.900Parts and accessorieskgfreefreefreefreefreefree
9033.003Parts and accessories (not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter) for machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of Chapter 90kgfreefreefreefreefreefree

Disclaimer: Information is provided as a free service and is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute the provision of professional advice of any kind. No responsibility for any loss caused to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by the author, copyright owner or publisher. Tariff information should be confirmed with SARS.