EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · HS 9031.49
9031 49 10: Other optical instruments and appliances: other, profile projectors
Other optical measuring instruments
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
- 9031 Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; profile projectors:
- Other optical instruments and appliances:
- 9031 49 Other:
- 9031 49 10 Profile projectors
What you pay
Importing into EU
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 4
- Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- Regulation 1517/18
- Documents
- C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate
- Duty on low-value parcelsLow-value consignment customs duty 3 EUR
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- until 31 October 2026
- Legal act
- Regulation 0382/26
- Duty on low-value parcelsLow-value consignment customs duty 3 EUR
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- from 1 November 2026
- Legal act
- Regulation 0382/26
- Handling feeUnion handling fee 2 EUR
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- from 1 November 2026
- Legal act
- Regulation 2108/26
- Documents
- Y126 Goods sold in distance sales
Import requirements 8
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Iraq, Syria
- Legal act
- Regulation 1210/03, Regulation 1332/13
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Iran, North Korea
- Legal act
- Regulation 0267/12, Regulation 1509/17
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Iran
- Legal act
- Regulation 0267/12
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- Iran
- Legal act
- Regulation 0267/12
- Documents
- Y949 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure (Reg 267/2012)
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- Iran
- Legal act
- Regulation 0267/12
- Documents
- Y750 The declared goods are not concerned by Council Regulation (EC) No. 267/2012, Annex II
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Ukraine
- Legal act
- Regulation 0765/06, Regulation 0692/14
- Documents
- Y727 The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 3)
- Y728 The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 4)
- L152 Import authorisation by virtue of article 1ra paragraph 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 765/2006
- Y870 Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 8f of Regulation (EU) No 765/2006)
- Y997 Goods not originating from or destined to Crimea or Sevastopol (Articles 2 and 2b.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014)
- N864 Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document
- N954 Movement certificate EUR.1
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- Russia
- In force
- until 23 April 2031
- Legal act
- Regulation 0833/14
- Documents
- L142 Import authorisation by virtue of article 3i paragraph 3c of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
- Y874 The prohibitions defined in article 3i.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 do not apply (see exemptions in article 3i.3aa)
- Y683 The prohibitions defined in article 3i.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 do not apply (see exemptions in article 3i.3i)
- L143 Import authorisation by virtue of article 12b.2 of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
- Y859 Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 12e of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014)
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- Regulation 0263/22
- Documents
- Y984 Goods not originating from or not destined for the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia
- N954 Movement certificate EUR.1
- N864 Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document
Export measures 14
Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.
| Export measures | Destination | Legal act | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restriction on exportSanctions regime: Iraq | All third countries | Regulation 1210/03 | 1 January 2007 |
| Restriction on exportSanctions regime: Iran | Iran | Regulation 0267/12 | 30 September 2025 |
| Export authorizationSanctions regime: Syria | All third countries | Regulation 1332/13 | 15 December 2013 |
| Restriction on exportSanctions regime: Iran | Iran | Regulation 0267/12 | 23 October 2017 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Crimea and Sevastopol | Ukraine | Regulation 0692/14 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: North Korea | North Korea | Regulation 1509/17 | 1 September 2017 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Iran | Iran | Regulation 0267/12 | 30 September 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Iran (UAV and missiles) | Iran | Regulation 1529/23 | 31 January 2026 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine | Ukraine | Regulation 0263/22 | 25 August 2022 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 21 May 2025 |
| Export authorization (Dual use) | All third countries | Regulation 2003/25 | 15 November 2025 |
TARIC data as of 10 November 2026
Import VAT in the EU member states
The rate each member state applies to goods of this code, from the Commission’s Taxes in Europe Database. A reduced rate can cover only part of the goods under a code: check the national VAT law.
-
Austria 20%
-
Belgium 21%
-
Bulgaria 20%
-
Croatia 25%
-
Cyprus 3% / 5% reduced rate
-
Czechia 21%
-
Denmark 25%
-
Estonia 9% reduced rate
-
Finland 25.5%
-
France 20%
-
Germany 19%
-
Greece 24%
-
Hungary 27%
-
Ireland 23%
-
Italy 22%
-
Latvia 21%
-
Lithuania 21%
-
Luxembourg 17%
-
Malta 18%
-
Netherlands 21%
-
Poland 23%
-
Portugal 23%
-
Romania 21%
-
Slovakia 23%
-
Slovenia 22%
-
Spain 21%
-
Sweden 25%
TEDB · 10 November 2026
EU: imports by month · HS 9031.49
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| €282.2m | 22.2% | +26.8% | |
| €259.8m | 20.5% | -1.6% | |
| €197.3m | 15.5% | -2.1% | |
| €110.9m | 8.7% | +8% | |
| €83.9m | 6.6% | +6% | |
| €56.6m | 4.5% | +13.2% | |
| €48.1m | 3.8% | -13.7% | |
| €34m | 2.7% | +11.2% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
9031.49 Other optical instruments and appliances: other
EU lines: 9031.49
Binding rulings for similar goods
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N364988 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of an automated body scanner from Spain
- N364058 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification and eligibility of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement of automated optical inspection systems from Canada
- N353708 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a package dimensioning and scale device from China
- N353292 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of the Mazlite System from Canada
- 600016367 HMRC
A machine vision inspection systems for contact lens manufacturing. It uses cameras, optical systems to capture images of the dry lenses in the process of soft contact manufacturing, and use machine vision algorithm to process the image to produce the results of pass or fail. This is an…
- 600016102 HMRC
A portable, handheld optical measuring device designed to measure and check railway wheelsets. The device uses non-contact laser light-section technology to capture wheel profile, diameter, back-to-back distance and other wheelset geometrical measurements. The handheld sensor transmits the…
- 600013425 HMRC
A C-Cell instrument, which is used to measure various parameters to determine the quality of baked goods and the analysis makes sure the product conforms to baking standards. The instrument takes a number of images of the baked good under inspection and analysis software then produces values for a…
- 600009731 HMRC
Fibre optic real time thermal rating (RTTR) measurement and monitoring system for power cables. It is a system made up of several components/sub-assemblies. The inputs to the monitoring system are the construction and installation details of the power cable, distributed temperature data of the…
25 rulings in total for this code
Legal notes
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover:
(a) articles of a kind used in machines, appliances or for other technical uses, of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber (heading 4016), of leather or of composition leather (heading 4205) or of textile material (heading 5911);
(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 6903; ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, of heading 6909;
(d) glass mirrors, not optically worked, of heading 7009, or mirrors of base metal or of precious metal, not being optical elements (heading 8306 or Chapter 71);
(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 9021;
(g) pumps incorporating measuring devices, of heading 8413; weight-operated counting and checking machinery, or separately presented weights for balances (heading 8423); lifting or handling machinery (headings 8425 to 8428); paper or paperboard cutting machines of all kinds (heading 8441); fittings for adjusting work or tools on machine tools or water-jet cutting machines, of heading 8466, 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 8470); valves and other appliances of heading 8481; machines and apparatus (including apparatus for the projection or drawing of circuit patterns on sensitised semiconductor materials) of heading 8486;
(h) searchlights or spotlights of a kind used for cycles or motor vehicles (heading 8512); portable electric lamps of heading 8513; cinematographic sound recording, reproducing or re-recording apparatus (heading 8519); sound-heads (heading 8522); television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders (heading 8525); radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus or radio remote control apparatus (heading 8526); connectors for optical fibres, optical fibre bundles or cables (heading 8536); numerical control apparatus of heading 8537; sealed beam lamp units of heading 8539; optical fibre cables of heading 8544;
(ij) searchlights or spotlights of heading 9405;
(k) articles of Chapter 95;
(l) monopods, bipods, tripods and similar articles, of heading 9620;
(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 3923 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 (other than heading 8487, 8548 or 9033) 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 9010, 9013 or 9031) 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 9033.
3. The provisions of notes 3 and 4 to Section XVI apply also to this chapter.
4. Heading 9005 does not apply to telescopic sights for fitting to arms, periscopic telescopes for fitting to submarines or tanks, or to telescopes for machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of this chapter or Section XVI; such telescopic sights and telescopes are to be classified in heading 9013.
5. Measuring or checking optical instruments, appliances or machines which, but for this note, could be classified both in heading 9013 and in heading 9031 are to be classified in heading 9031.
6. For the purposes of heading 9021, 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 that 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 9032 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.
CN Explanatory Notes
The European Commission's explanatory notes on how to classify goods in these CN codes. They are not legally binding but customs authorities follow them; they complement the HS Explanatory Notes of the World Customs Organization.
General notes to the chapter
OPTICAL, PHOTOGRAPHIC, CINEMATOGRAPHIC, MEASURING, CHECKING, PRECISION, MEDICAL OR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS; PARTS AND ACCESSORIES THEREOF
Additional note 2
See also Note 6 to Chapter 90 and the judgment in Joined Cases C-260/00 to C-263/00, Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG and Medi Bayreuth Weihermüller & Voigtmann GmbH & Co. KG v Oberfinanzdirektion Koblenz, paragraphs 36, 37, 39, 40, 43 and 45, (ECLI:EU:C:2002:637).
Examples of products falling under subheading 9021 10 10:
Examples of products falling under Section XI:
Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union, Official Journal C (consolidated text and later amendments) · © European Union
This line in earlier years
The Combined Nomenclature of each year, as published in the Official Journal: description, third-country duty and supplementary unit.
| Year | Description | Third-country duty | Supplementary unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Profile projectors | Free | p/st |
| 2025 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2024 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2023 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2022 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2021 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2020 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2019 | Profile projectors | Free | p/st |
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, 9031 49 10 is one of 2 lines under subheading 9031.49, other optical instruments and appliances: other.
The third-country duty is free, and quantities are declared in p/st.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the EU imported other optical measuring instruments (HS 9031.49) worth €1.3bn (up 8% on the year before), at an average of €215.56 per kg; China supplied 22%, followed by United States.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is free, the Türkiye duty is 0%–2.8%, the US duty is free, the Canada duty is free, the Mexico duty is free, the Brazil duty is 7.2%–20%, the Argentina duty is 0%–12.6%, the Peru duty is free, the New Zealand duty is free, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is free, the GCC duty is free, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is free and the Nigeria duty is 10%.
EU member states imported goods of subheading 9031.49 worth US$2.4bn in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was China, and the United Kingdom ranked 5th with US$87m.
Questions and answers
What is the EU import duty for CN code 9031 49 10?
The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is free; the supplementary unit is p/st. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Where does the EU import these goods from?
For subheading 9031.49 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was China (US$237m), followed by the United States.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.