Chapter 90 · Section XVIII

Optical, photographic, medical & precision instruments

Optical, medical & precision instruments

Chapter 90 at a glance

HS chapter
90
Section
XVIII — Optical, medical & precision instruments
Tariff headings
32 (143 subheadings)
General customs duty
0%
Import VAT
15% on the added tax value (ATV)
Products listed
7

As at 2026-08-06. Source: SARS Tariff Book, Schedule 1 Part 1.

HS Chapter 90 covers optical, photographic, medical & precision instruments. Every tariff heading in the chapter is listed below, with its subheadings. Headings we have researched carry a duty page link showing the South African customs duty, a worked landed-cost example and any anti-dumping or ITAC permit exposure.

Duty pages in this chapter

9001.50 Spectacle lenses of materials other than glass 0% duty + 15% VAT 9003.11 Spectacle frames of plastics 0% duty + 15% VAT 9004.10 Sunglasses 0% duty + 15% VAT 9018.39 Medical, surgical & dental instruments 0% duty + 15% VAT 9021.40 Hearing aids 0% duty + 15% VAT 9025.19 Thermometers (not combined with other instruments) 0% duty + 15% VAT 9028.30 Electricity supply meters 0% duty + 15% VAT

All 32 tariff headings in Chapter 90

Harmonised System HS 2022 nomenclature — the same headings and subheadings the SARS Tariff Book is built on. South Africa classifies to 8 digits, so confirm the last two digits of your line in the Tariff Book before you clear.

9001 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
  • 9001.10 Optical fibres, optical fibre bundles and cables; excluding those of heading no. 8544
  • 9001.20 Optical elements; polarising material, sheets and plates thereof
  • 9001.30 Lenses, contact; unmounted, of any material, excluding elements of glass not optically worked
  • 9001.40 Lenses, spectacle; unmounted, of glass, excluding elements of glass not optically worked
  • 9001.50 Lenses, spectacle; unmounted, of materials other than glass 0% duty
  • 9001.90 Optical elements; lenses n.e.c. in heading no. 9001, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, unmounted, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked)
9002 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
  • 9002.11 Lenses; objective, for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding glass not optically worked)
  • 9002.19 Lenses; objective, (other than for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers), mounted, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked)
  • 9002.20 Filters; mounted as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked)
  • 9002.90 Optical elements; n.e.c. in heading no. 9002 (e.g. prisms and mirrors), mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked)
9003 Frames and mountings; for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts
9004 Spectacles, goggles and the like; corrective, protective or other
9005 Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, mountings therefore; other astronomical instruments, mountings therefore, but not including instruments for radio-astronomy
  • 9005.10 Binoculars
  • 9005.80 Monoculars; other optical telescopes and astronomical instruments, excluding instruments for radio-astronomy
  • 9005.90 Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, astronomical instruments (excluding those of radio-astronomy); parts and accessories (including mountings)
9006 Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs other than discharge lamps of heading no. 8539
  • 9006.30 Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); specially designed for underwater use, aerial survey, medical or surgical examination of internal organs; comparison cameras for forensic or criminological use
  • 9006.40 Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); instant print cameras
  • 9006.53 Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic), for roll film of a width of 35mm
  • 9006.59 Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); n.e.c. in heading no 9006
  • 9006.61 Photographic flashlight apparatus; discharge lamp (electronic)
  • 9006.69 Photographic flashlight apparatus; n.e.c. in heading no. 9006
  • 9006.91 Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); parts and accessories
  • 9006.99 Photographic flashlight apparatus; parts and accessories, for other than cameras
9007 Cinematographic cameras and projectors, whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatus
  • 9007.10 Cameras, cinematographic; whether or not incorporating sound recording apparatus
  • 9007.20 Projectors, cinematographic; whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatus
  • 9007.91 Cameras, cinematographic; parts and accessories, whether or not incorporating sound recording apparatus
  • 9007.92 Projectors, cinematographic; parts and accessories, whether or not incorporating sound reproducing apparatus
9008 Image projectors, other than cinematographic; photographic (other than cinematographic) enlargers and reducers
  • 9008.50 Image projectors, photographic enlargers and reducers, excluding cinematographic
  • 9008.90 Photographic (other than cinematographic) image projectors, enlargers, and reducers; parts and accessories
9010 Photographic (including cinematographic) laboratory apparatus and equipment, n.e.c. in chapter 90; negatoscopes; projection screens
  • 9010.10 Photographic laboratory apparatus and equipment; for automatically developing photographic (including cinematographic) film or paper in rolls or for automatically exposing developed film to rolls of paper
  • 9010.50 Photographic laboratory apparatus and equipment; n.e.c. in item no. 9010.10, for photographic (including cinematographic) laboratories; negatoscopes
  • 9010.60 Photographic laboratory apparatus and equipment (including cinematographic); projection screens
  • 9010.90 Photographic laboratory apparatus and equipment (including cinematographic); parts and accessories
9011 Microscopes, compound optical; including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection
  • 9011.10 Microscopes, compound optical; stereoscopic microscopes
  • 9011.20 Microscopes, compound optical; for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection
  • 9011.80 Microscopes, compound optical; (other than stereoscopic and microscopes for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection)
  • 9011.90 Microscopes, compound optical; parts and accessories (including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection)
9012 Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus
  • 9012.10 Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus
  • 9012.90 Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus; parts and accessories
9013 Lasers, other than laser diodes; other optical appliances and instruments n.e.c. in this chapter
  • 9013.10 Optical appliances and instruments; telescopic sights for fitting to arms; periscopes; telescopes designed to form parts of machines, appliances, instruments or apparatus of this chapter
  • 9013.20 Lasers; other than laser diodes
  • 9013.80 Optical devices, appliances and instruments; n.e.c. in heading no. 9013
  • 9013.90 Optical appliances and instruments; parts and accessories for articles of heading no. 9013
9014 Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compasses
  • 9014.10 Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compasses
  • 9014.20 Navigational instruments and appliances; for aeronautical or space navigation (excluding compasses)
  • 9014.80 Navigational instruments and appliances; for navigation other than aeronautical or space navigation (excluding direction finding compasses)
  • 9014.90 Navigational instruments and appliances; parts and accessories
9015 Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses, rangefinders
  • 9015.10 Rangefinders
  • 9015.20 Surveying equipment; theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers)
  • 9015.30 Surveying equipment; levels
  • 9015.40 Surveying equipment; photogrammetrical surveying instruments and appliances
  • 9015.80 Surveying equipment; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 9015, including hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances (excluding compasses)
  • 9015.90 Surveying equipment; parts and accessories for articles of heading no. 9015
9016 Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weights
  • 9016.00 Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weights
9017 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.
  • 9017.10 Drafting tables and machines; whether or not automatic
  • 9017.20 Drawing, marking-out or mathematical calculating instruments
  • 9017.30 Mathematical equipment; micrometers, callipers and gauges
  • 9017.80 Mathematical instruments and equipment; n.e.c. in heading no. 9017
  • 9017.90 Drawing, marking-out equipment and mathematical instruments; parts and accessories
9018 Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight testing instruments
  • 9018.11 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; electro-cardiographs
  • 9018.12 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; ultrasonic scanning apparatus
  • 9018.13 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
  • 9018.14 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; scintigraphic apparatus
  • 9018.19 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; electro-diagnostic apparatus (including apparatus for functional exploratory examination or for checking physiological parameters), n.e.c. in item no. 9018.1
  • 9018.20 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; ultra-violet or infra-red ray apparatus
  • 9018.31 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; syringes, with or without needles
  • 9018.32 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; tubular metal needles and needles for sutures
  • 9018.39 Medical, surgical instruments and appliances; catheters, cannulae and the like 0% duty
  • 9018.41 Dental instruments and appliances; dental drill engines, whether or not combined on a single base with other dental equipment
  • 9018.49 Dental instruments and appliances; other than dental drill engines
  • 9018.50 Ophthalmic instruments and appliances
  • 9018.90 Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances; n.e.c. in heading no. 9018
9019 Mechano-therapy, massage appliances; psychological aptitude testing apparatus; ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus
  • 9019.10 Mechano-therapy appliances; massage apparatus and psychological aptitude-testing apparatus
  • 9019.20 Therapeutic respiration apparatus; ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy apparatus; artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus
9020 Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.20
  • 9020.00 Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.20
9021 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
  • 9021.10 Orthopaedic or fracture appliances
  • 9021.21 Dental fittings; artificial teeth
  • 9021.29 Dental fittings; other than artificial teeth
  • 9021.31 Artificial parts of the body
  • 9021.39 Artificial parts of the body; excluding artificial joints
  • 9021.40 Hearing aids (excluding parts and accessories) 0% duty
  • 9021.50 Pacemakers; for stimulating heart muscles (excluding parts and accessories)
  • 9021.90 Appliances; worn, carried or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability
9022 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
  • 9022.12 Apparatus based on the use of x-rays; including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, computed tomography apparatus
  • 9022.13 Apparatus based on the use of x-rays; including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, for dental uses, excluding computed tomography apparatus
  • 9022.14 Apparatus based on the use of x-rays; including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, for medical, surgical or veterinary uses, not dental uses, excluding computed tomography apparatus
  • 9022.19 Apparatus based on the use of x-rays, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus; for other than medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses
  • 9022.21 Apparatus based on the use of alpha, beta, gamma or other ionising radiations, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus; for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses
  • 9022.29 Apparatus based on the use of alpha, beta, gamma or other ionising radiations, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus; (for other than medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses)
  • 9022.30 X-ray tubes
  • 9022.90 Apparatus based on use of x-rays and similar; parts and accessories (x-ray generators, tubes, high tension generators, control panels and desks, screens, examination or treatment tables, chairs and like
9023 Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other uses
  • 9023.00 Instruments, apparatus and models; designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other uses
9024 Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity of other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)
  • 9024.10 Machines and appliances; for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity or other mechanical properties of metals
  • 9024.80 Machines and appliances; for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity or other mechanical properties of materials other than metals
  • 9024.90 Machines and appliances; parts and accessories for those testing hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity or other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metal, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)
9025 Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, recording or not
  • 9025.11 Thermometers and pyrometers; liquid filled, for direct reading, not combined with other instruments
  • 9025.19 Thermometers and pyrometers; (other than liquid filled, for direct reading), not combined with other instruments 0% duty
  • 9025.80 Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, barometers, hygrometers, psychrometers, thermometers, pyrometers; recording or not, any combination of these instruments (excluding thermometers and barometers not combined with other instruments)
  • 9025.90 Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, barometers, hygrometers, psychrometers, thermometers, pyrometers; recording or not, any combination of these instruments, parts and accessories
9026 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
  • 9026.10 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking the flow or level of liquids
  • 9026.20 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking pressure
  • 9026.80 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking variables of liquids or gases (excluding pressure or the flow and level of liquids and those of heading no. 9014, 9015, 9028 and 9032)
  • 9026.90 Instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories for those measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure or other variables of liquids or gases (excluding those of heading no. 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032)
9027 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
  • 9027.10 Instruments and apparatus; gas or smoke analysis apparatus, for physical or chemical analysis
  • 9027.20 Chromatographs and electrophoresis instruments
  • 9027.30 Spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs; using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR)
  • 9027.50 Instruments and apparatus; using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR), (other than spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs)
  • 9027.81 Instruments and apparatus; for physical or chemical analysis, for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or quantities of heat, sound or light, mass spectrometers
  • 9027.89 Instruments and apparatus; for physical or chemical analysis, for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or quantities of heat, sound or light, exposure meters
  • 9027.90 Microtomes and parts and accessories thereof
9028 Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters therefor
9029 Revolution counter, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like, speed indicators and tachometers, other than those of heading no. 9015, stroboscopes
  • 9029.10 Meters and counters; revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like
  • 9029.20 Meters; speed indicators and tachometers; stroboscopes
  • 9029.90 Meters and counters; parts and accessories for revolution and production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like; speed indicators, tachometers (excluding heading no. 9015), stroboscopes
9030 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
  • 9030.10 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or detecting ionising radiations
  • 9030.20 Oscilloscopes and oscillographs
  • 9030.31 Multimeters; for measuring or checking voltage, current, resistance or power (other than those for measuring or checking semiconductor wafer or devices), without a recording device
  • 9030.32 Multimeters; for measuring or checking voltage, current, resistance or power, with a recording device
  • 9030.33 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking voltage, current, resistance or power, without a recording device (excluding multimeters)
  • 9030.39 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking voltage, current, resistance or power, with a recording device (excluding multimeters)
  • 9030.40 Instruments and apparatus; specially designed for telecommunications (e.g. cross-talk meters, gain measuring instruments, distortion factor meters, psophometers)
  • 9030.82 Instruments and apparatus; for measuring or checking semiconductor wafers or devices (including integrated circuits)
  • 9030.84 Instruments and apparatus; n.e.c. in heading no. 9030, with a recording device
  • 9030.89 Instruments and apparatus; n.e.c. in heading no. 9030, without a recording device
  • 9030.90 Instruments, apparatus for measuring, checking electrical quantities, not meters of heading no. 9028; parts and accessories, for measuring or detecting alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, cosmic and other radiations
9031 Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, n.e.c. or included in this chapter; profile projectors
  • 9031.10 Machines; for balancing mechanical parts
  • 9031.20 Test benches
  • 9031.41 Optical instruments and appliances; for inspecting semiconductor wafers or devices or for inspecting photomasks or reticles used in manufacturing semiconductor devices, n.e.c. in chapter 90
  • 9031.49 Optical instruments and appliances; for measuring or checking, n.e.c. in chapter 90
  • 9031.80 Instruments, appliances and machines; for measuring or checking n.e.c. in chapter 90
  • 9031.90 Instruments, appliances and machines; parts and accessories for those measuring or checking devices of heading no. 9031
9032 Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic type
  • 9032.10 Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic type, thermostats
  • 9032.20 Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic, manostats
  • 9032.81 Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic, hydraulic or pneumatic
  • 9032.89 Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic, other than hydraulic or pneumatic
  • 9032.90 Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic, parts and accessories
9033 Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90
  • 9033.00 Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90
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