"Vision Examination" for Imported Eye Care Products:Classification of CustomsPractical classification techniques: A veterans guide to avoiding pitfalls

Hello everyone, I'm a seasoned foreign trade veteran with 20 years of experience. Today, I'd like to discuss a topic that is both professional and close to daily life—the customs classification of eye care products. Just as we regularly need eye exams, imported goods also have to pass the "vision test" of customs to find the correct "prescription"—that is, the tariff code.

With increasing eye strain in modern life, the eye care product market is booming. But many importers often face these classification dilemmas during customs declaration:

• Photochromic glassesAre they ordinary glasses or sunglasses?
• Orthokeratology lensesWhy cant they be classified with regular contact lenses?
• Steam eye masksHow should this "warm guy" product be categorized?

Below Ill guide you to decode these classification puzzles one by one.

The "Household Register" of the Eyeglasses Family

1. Photochromic glasses: The "chameleon" in the eyes of customs.

I remember the first time I imported photochromic glasses, the client insisted on declaring them as sunglasses. However, according to the "Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System," photochromic glasses have their own unique "ID card" — 90049010. The key point is that they...photochromic properties, which regular sunglasses (90041000) dont possess.

Professional tip: If sunglasses are simply tinted without automatic photochromic function, never try to classify them as photochromic glasses.

2. Eyeglasses: The "permanent residents" of 9004.90.90.

Although the structure of eyeglasses is simple, it's essential to distinguish their "family members" clearly:

• Frames and parts: Heading 9003
• Unprocessed glass lenses: Heading 7015
• Optically processed lenses: Heading 9001

A customer once declared rimless glasses as "no product," which led to a customs inspection. In fact, rimless glasses are just a special design and are essentially still framed glasses.

3. Contact lenses: Not all lenses are called 90013000

Although both regular contact lenses (90013000) and orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses, 90185000) are types of contact lenses, customs has issued them different "residence permits." OK lenses fall under...Medical DevicesScope - this is where many importers often get confused.

Case Sharing: A company declared orthokeratology (OK) lenses as regular contact lenses upon import, resulting in penalties due to incorrect classification. Remember, OK lenses worn at night and removed during the day have the "profession" of corneal orthoptists!

The "identity proof" of eye protection products.

1. Eye Cream: 33049900 for the "Perfectionists"

Eye creams and regular facial creams are like different floors in the same building. While both are skincare products, eye creams have a dedicated HS code 33049900. The key differences lie in:

• Specifically designed for the eye area
• Gentler formulations
• More targeted efficacy

2. Steam Eye Mask: The "Warm Guy" of 38249999

This self-heating product through chemical reactions has been assigned the "collective dormitory" code 38249999 by customs. There was once a customer who wanted to declare it as a medical device, but its main function isFatigue reliefrather than treatment, so this classification is accurate.

3. Eye Wash Solution: The Dual Identity Requiring "Optometry"

Eye wash may have two "household registrations":

• General cleaning purpose: 33079000
• Medical purpose: Heading 3004

The key lies in the product description and ingredients. If therapeutic effects are claimed, it must be "relocated" to the medical supplies category.

4. Eye Beauty Device: "Tech Guru" of 85437099

This device working through microcurrent and heating was classified under electrical equipment by customs. Remember one principle: when product function is hard to determine, followessential characteristicsclassification.

Clearance tips

Based on my experience, eye care product classification requires attention to:

• Function takes precedence: First examine the products primary function, then consider material and form
• Consistent declaration: Product description, test reports, and actual functions must align
• Dynamic monitoring: Customs classification standards may adjust, requiring timely knowledge updates

Finally, an industry maxim: Correct classification is like fitting glasses - only with the right prescription can you see clearly, and only with accurate classification can goods clear smoothly!

If you encounter any "blurred vision" issues during the import of eye care products, feel free to consult us anytime. A 20-year experienced foreign trade optometrist is always at your service!