Subheading · Chapter 90 · Heading 9018
9018.50: Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances
Other ophthalmic instruments
9018.50 is the HS subheading for other ophthalmic instruments, under heading 9018 in chapter 90.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 9018 50 00 00 Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances
- 9018 50 10 00 Non-optical Free
- 9018 50 90 00 Optical Free
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 2
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
Import requirements 3
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Iraq, Syria, Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/707, S.I. 2019/792, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Iran, Libya, North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/461, 2020 No. 1665, S.I. 2019/411
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code " EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 United States | £61.5m | 34.3% | -10.7% |
 China | £25.7m | 14.3% | -1.2% |
 Romania | £11.2m | 6.3% | +1.7% |
 Japan | £10.9m | 6.1% | -37.9% |
 Germany | £10.4m | 5.8% | -26.7% |
 Netherlands | £8.4m | 4.7% | +14% |
 Switzerland | £7.1m | 4% | -11.9% |
 Italy | £6.7m | 3.7% | +51.8% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Brazil 7.2% – 20% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 13.6% 
Argentina Free – 12.6% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 6.3% 
Peru Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines Japan Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Nigeria 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$239kUS$239k+US$9m+US$97m+> US$327m
Exports: 145
- United States: US$2bn
- Germany: US$915m
- Japan: US$479m
- Switzerland: US$394m
- Netherlands: US$327m
- Belgium: US$215m
- France: US$206m
- United Kingdom: US$192m
- China: US$188m
- Singapore: US$176m
- Italy: US$174m
- Mexico: US$151m
- Ireland: US$118m
- Malaysia: US$116m
- Israel: US$97m
- South Korea: US$85m
- Indonesia: US$64m
- Poland: US$60m
- Taiwan: US$55m
- Austria: US$46m
- India: US$41m
- Australia: US$40m
- Vietnam: US$38m
- Saudi Arabia: US$37m
- Czechia: US$31m
- Spain: US$22m
- Denmark: US$19m
- Romania: US$17m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$15m
- Sweden: US$13m
- Finland: US$12m
- Türkiye: US$11m
- Canada: US$11m
- Lithuania: US$10m
- Slovenia: US$9m
- Pakistan: US$9m
- Thailand: US$8m
- Russia: US$7m
- Slovakia: US$6m
- Mauritius: US$6m
- Latvia: US$6m
- Dominican Republic: US$6m
- Armenia: US$5m
- Greece: US$5m
- South Africa: US$4m
- Panama: US$3m
- Hungary: US$3m
- Bulgaria: US$3m
- Brazil: US$2m
- Costa Rica: US$2m
- Portugal: US$2m
- Ecuador: US$2m
- Norway: US$2m
- Serbia: US$2m
- Curaçao: US$1m
- Tunisia: US$1m
- New Zealand: US$1m
- Kazakhstan: US$1m
- Eswatini: US$1m
- Croatia: US$933k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$15m+US$76m+> US$234m
Imports: 209
- China: US$685m
- United States: US$656m
- Netherlands: US$493m
- Germany: US$342m
- France: US$307m
- Japan: US$237m
- United Kingdom: US$234m
- India: US$201m
- Belgium: US$166m
- Italy: US$153m
- Russia: US$147m
- Canada: US$125m
- South Korea: US$125m
- Singapore: US$115m
- Spain: US$115m
- Australia: US$102m
- Malaysia: US$88m
- Mexico: US$85m
- Brazil: US$83m
- Taiwan: US$81m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$76m
- Poland: US$68m
- Switzerland: US$67m
- Türkiye: US$67m
- Thailand: US$60m
- Czechia: US$59m
- Saudi Arabia: US$56m
- Austria: US$44m
- Indonesia: US$43m
- United Arab Emirates: US$43m
- Sweden: US$39m
- Portugal: US$34m
- Denmark: US$34m
- Vietnam: US$33m
- Israel: US$32m
- Chile: US$29m
- Iran: US$28m
- South Africa: US$28m
- Ireland: US$28m
- Algeria: US$26m
- Romania: US$25m
- Finland: US$23m
- Morocco: US$22m
- Greece: US$21m
- Norway: US$19m
- New Zealand: US$19m
- Argentina: US$18m
- Colombia: US$18m
- Iraq: US$18m
- Peru: US$18m
- Egypt: US$15m
- Kazakhstan: US$15m
- Philippines: US$14m
- Slovakia: US$14m
- Hungary: US$14m
- Bulgaria: US$13m
- Ukraine: US$13m
- Uzbekistan: US$12m
- Tunisia: US$11m
- Lithuania: US$10m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$2bn | 25.4% |
| 2 | Germany | US$915m | 15.2% |
| 3 | Japan | US$479m | 8% |
| 4 | Switzerland | US$394m | 6.6% |
| 5 | Netherlands | US$327m | 5.4% |
| 6 |  Belgium | US$215m | 3.6% |
| 7 |  France | US$206m | 3.4% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | US$192m | 3.2% |
| 9 | China | US$188m | 3.1% |
| 10 |  Singapore | US$176m | 2.9% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$685m | 11.4% |
| 2 | United States | US$656m | 10.9% |
| 3 | Netherlands | US$493m | 8.2% |
| 4 | Germany | US$342m | 5.7% |
| 5 | France | US$307m | 5.1% |
| 6 | Japan | US$237m | 3.9% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | US$234m | 3.9% |
| 8 |  India | US$201m | 3.3% |
| 9 | Belgium | US$166m | 2.8% |
| 10 | Italy | US$153m | 2.6% |
Import duty on this product around the world 164
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 1%median duty
- 81number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 25%highest: Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Anguilla
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 10% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 1% | 0% – 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Armenia | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 1% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 10% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Belize | 10% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 7% | 0% – 14% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 5% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 5% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 5% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 5% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 5% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 0% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 4% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 10% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 10% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 0% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 5% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 1.5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 5% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 0% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 5% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 5% | 2023 | |
| Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 10% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 6% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 10% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 10% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 10% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 7% | 0% – 14% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 87225 Ophthalmic instruments & appliances, n.e.s.
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Capital goods · BEC 712020
- CPC 2.1 product
- 48150 Other instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical or veterinary sciences (including syringes, needles, catheters, cannulae, ophthalmic instruments and appliances n.e.c. and electro-medical apparatus n.e.c.)
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 3250 Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9018.50 | changed |
| 2012 | 9018.50 | changed |
| 2007 | 9018.50 | changed |
| 2002 | 9018.50 | changed |
| 1996 | 9018.50 | changed |
| 1992 | 9018.50 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 19
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.
- N358892 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of G2-W Singulator from Costa Rica.
- N355141 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of intraocular lens injectors from Switzerland
- N285794 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of “TrueTear Intranasal Lacrimal Neurostimulator” from China
- 600016385 HMRC
An ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) probe designed for use with ophthalmic testing equipment. It produces images of the internal structures of the eye to assist in the diagnosis and assessment of pathological or traumatic ocular conditions.
- 600016386 HMRC
A standalone, multipurpose diagnostic ophthalmic ultrasound system designed for the examination and visualisation of the internal structures of the eye. It performs measurements of axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and corneal thickness. The device combines A-scan, B-scan,…
- 600016368 HMRC
A stainless steel axle tube for a slit lamp, forming part of the X-Y movement mechanism used to support and guide movement of the instrument during ophthalmic examination procedures.
- 600016370 HMRC
A curved aluminium mounting which is designed for installation between the headband assembly and optical unit of an indirect ophthalmoscope. The component supports and positions the optical unit on the head-mounted ophthalmic examination device used for examination of the eye.
- 600016371 HMRC
A curved aluminium mounting which is designed for installation between the headband assembly and optical unit of an indirect ophthalmoscope. The component supports and positions the optical unit on the head-mounted ophthalmic examination device used for examination of the eye.
- 600016365 HMRC
A cylindrical stainless steel shaft measuring approximately 18 inches in length and ½ inch in diameter, incorporating a central threaded section of approximately 3½ inches. The product is specifically designed for use in the chin-rest assembly of ophthalmic optical testing equipment.
19 rulings in total for this code
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Classification · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1873 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 9018.50 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides subheading 9018.50 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard Free; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported other ophthalmic instruments worth £178.9m (down 8% on the year before), at an average of £154.22 per kg; United States supplied 34%, followed by China.
World trade in other ophthalmic instruments reached US$6bn in 2024, down 3.7% on 2023.
The United States was the largest exporter with 25.4% of the total, ahead of Germany.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for other ophthalmic instruments and appliances?
Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances fall under HS subheading 9018.50, part of heading 9018, in section XVIII of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on other ophthalmic instruments and appliances in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9018.50 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on other ophthalmic instruments and appliances in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9018.50 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most other ophthalmic instruments and appliances?
The United States, with US$2bn in 2024 (25.4% of world exports).
Which countries can export other ophthalmic instruments to the UK duty-free?
174 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on other ophthalmic instruments?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import other ophthalmic instruments from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were United States (34%), China (14%) and Romania (6%), out of total imports of £178.9m.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.