Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories
Chapter 90 of the Harmonised System covers Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories — 32 four-digit headings spanning optical fibres and optical fibre bundles to instruments and apparatus that customs authorities worldwide use to classify these goods and set duty.
- India exports 2024
- $4.96B
Source: UN Comtrade — India's reported merchandise exports to the world, 2024.
Sourcing this category from India
Chapter 90 covers optical, photographic, measuring, medical and surgical instruments and apparatus. India exports surgical and medical instruments, notably from Jalandhar, alongside optical, measuring and laboratory equipment. Subheadings organise the goods by function — optical elements, measuring and checking instruments, medical and surgical apparatus — making precise classification important across this diverse, high-value chapter.
How to read this code
90 is the two-digit HS chapter for optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring,. To clear customs your destination country extends it to a full 8–10 digit code and assigns the duty rate. India's preferential trade agreements (UAE CEPA, Australia ECTA, and others) can reduce or zero out that duty on many instruments, clocks & musical instruments lines — check our import guides for your market.
Headings under HS 90
The Harmonised System breaks Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories into these 32 headings. Drill down to the exact classification for your goods.
Optical 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 glass
Lenses, 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 worked
Frames and mountings; for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts
Spectacles, goggles and the like; corrective, protective or other
Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, mountings therefore; other astronomical instruments, mountings therefore, but not including instruments for radio-astronomy
Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs other than discharge lamps of heading no. 8539
Cinematographic cameras and projectors, whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatus
Image projectors, other than cinematographic; photographic (other than cinematographic) enlargers and reducers
Photographic (including cinematographic) laboratory apparatus and equipment, n.e.c. in chapter 90; negatoscopes; projection screens
Microscopes, compound optical; including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection
Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus
Lasers, other than laser diodes; other optical appliances and instruments n.e.c. in this chapter
Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compasses
Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses, rangefinders
Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weights
Drawing, 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.
Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight testing instruments
Mechano-therapy, massage appliances; psychological aptitude testing apparatus; ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus
Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.20
Orthopaedic 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 disability
Apparatus 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 tens
Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other uses
Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity of other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)
Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, recording or not
Instruments, 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 9032
Instruments 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 light
Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters therefor
Revolution counter, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like, speed indicators and tachometers, other than those of heading no. 9015, stroboscopes
Instruments, 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 radiations
Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, n.e.c. or included in this chapter; profile projectors
Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic type
Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90
Top destinations for Chapter 90 exports
India's largest buyers of goods in this HS chapter in 2024, ranked by export value.
Chapter-level destination mix — your specific HS line may skew differently. Source: UN Comtrade, 2024.
Working out import duty for HS 90 into your market? See full duty context and India-vs-rivals comparisons in our India comparison guides and export resource hub.
Indian exporters in this category
Established export houses with relevant HS focus. Listings are compiled from public records — run your own due diligence.
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