Heading · Chapter 38
3821: Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells
Heading 3821 has no further six-digit division: the whole heading is subheading 3821.00, in chapter 38 (miscellaneous chemical products).
Duty rates compared
UK specific or compound duty Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
EU 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Mexico 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 12.6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 12.6% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan 2.5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line Subheadings 1
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$199kUS$199k+US$4m+US$73m+> US$302m
Exports: 132
- United States: US$988m
- France: US$469m
- United Kingdom: US$442m
- Germany: US$302m
- Netherlands: US$255m
- Singapore: US$156m
- Canada: US$112m
- Belgium: US$111m
- Italy: US$90m
- Austria: US$80m
- Spain: US$79m
- Poland: US$74m
- Japan: US$73m
- China: US$58m
- Switzerland: US$53m
- Sweden: US$53m
- Costa Rica: US$48m
- Israel: US$32m
- India: US$31m
- Denmark: US$19m
- South Korea: US$16m
- Czechia: US$12m
- Argentina: US$10m
- Lithuania: US$10m
- Ireland: US$10m
- Mexico: US$7m
- Australia: US$7m
- Finland: US$6m
- Taiwan: US$6m
- Slovenia: US$5m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$4m
- Brazil: US$4m
- Estonia: US$4m
- Türkiye: US$3m
- Latvia: US$3m
- Thailand: US$3m
- Greece: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Malaysia: US$2m
- Guatemala: US$2m
- Slovakia: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Portugal: US$935k
- Vietnam: US$887k
- Russia: US$840k
- South Africa: US$774k
- Serbia: US$643k
- New Zealand: US$624k
- Indonesia: US$552k
- Ecuador: US$518k
- Bulgaria: US$514k
- Croatia: US$483k
- Colombia: US$431k
- Cyprus: US$429k
- Chile: US$388k
- Uzbekistan: US$380k
- Kazakhstan: US$378k
- Kenya: US$318k
- Norway: US$274k
- Armenia: US$236k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$802kUS$802k+US$7m+US$47m+> US$164m
Imports: 209
- China: US$320m
- United States: US$306m
- Germany: US$290m
- Netherlands: US$287m
- South Korea: US$225m
- France: US$176m
- Ireland: US$164m
- Belgium: US$144m
- Switzerland: US$140m
- Japan: US$133m
- India: US$106m
- United Kingdom: US$106m
- Spain: US$99m
- Singapore: US$75m
- Denmark: US$70m
- Canada: US$67m
- Austria: US$67m
- Italy: US$63m
- Brazil: US$50m
- Australia: US$48m
- Russia: US$47m
- Mexico: US$47m
- Taiwan: US$39m
- Thailand: US$35m
- Türkiye: US$34m
- Poland: US$29m
- Czechia: US$28m
- Sweden: US$25m
- Indonesia: US$25m
- Argentina: US$20m
- Hungary: US$20m
- Vietnam: US$19m
- Colombia: US$17m
- Philippines: US$15m
- United Arab Emirates: US$15m
- Malaysia: US$14m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$13m
- Israel: US$13m
- Iran: US$11m
- Iceland: US$11m
- Portugal: US$11m
- Norway: US$11m
- Slovenia: US$10m
- Saudi Arabia: US$10m
- Chile: US$10m
- Romania: US$9m
- Greece: US$9m
- Peru: US$9m
- South Africa: US$9m
- New Zealand: US$8m
- Ukraine: US$8m
- Finland: US$7m
- Guatemala: US$7m
- Serbia: US$6m
- Belarus: US$6m
- Ecuador: US$5m
- Slovakia: US$5m
- Lithuania: US$5m
- Kazakhstan: US$4m
- Paraguay: US$4m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$988m | 27% |
| 2 |  France | US$469m | 12.8% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$442m | 12.1% |
| 4 |  Germany | US$302m | 8.3% |
| 5 |  Netherlands | US$255m | 7% |
| 6 |  Singapore | US$156m | 4.3% |
| 7 | Canada | US$112m | 3.1% |
| 8 |  Belgium | US$111m | 3% |
| 9 |  Italy | US$90m | 2.5% |
| 10 |  Austria | US$80m | 2.2% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$320m | 8.7% |
| 2 | United States | US$306m | 8.4% |
| 3 | Germany | US$290m | 7.9% |
| 4 | Netherlands | US$287m | 7.8% |
| 5 |  South Korea | US$225m | 6.2% |
| 6 | France | US$176m | 4.8% |
| 7 |  Ireland | US$164m | 4.5% |
| 8 | Belgium | US$144m | 3.9% |
| 9 | Switzerland | US$140m | 3.8% |
| 10 | Japan | US$133m | 3.6% |
Heading 3821 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 5%.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule has one tariff line for heading 3821; the duty is 5%.
Heading 3821 is a single line in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, where the duty is 5%.
The Customs Tariff of Canada divides heading 3821 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 3821 is a single line in the Mexican Tariff (TIGIE), where the duty is 5%.
The Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC) has one tariff line for heading 3821; the duty is 12.6%.
In the Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM), heading 3821 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is 12.6%.
The Customs Tariff of Peru divides heading 3821 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 3821 is a single line in the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand, where the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan has one tariff line for heading 3821; the duty is 2.5%.
Heading 3821 is a single line in the Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan, where the duty is 5%.
The GCC Common Customs Tariff divides heading 3821 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
Heading 3821 is a single line in the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), where the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Norway has one tariff line for heading 3821; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 3821 is a single line in the Customs Tariff of North Macedonia, where the duty is duty-free.
The ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria) has one tariff line for heading 3821; the duty is duty-free.
In 2024, countries exported heading 3821 goods worth US$4bn (+4.9% year on year).
The largest exporter was the United States (US$988m), followed by France.
The biggest buyer was China, with imports of US$320m.
The United Kingdom ranked 3rd among 132 exporters with US$442m.
The United Kingdom imported US$106m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells?
Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of plant, human or animal cells fall under HS heading 3821, part of chapter 38, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on prepared culture media for the development or… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3821 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on prepared culture media for the development or… in Türkiye?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 3821 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most prepared culture media for the development or…?
The United States, with US$988m in 2024 (27% of world exports).