Import Classification of Eye Care Products

 

 

Eyes are one of the most important organs in human senses. Nowadays, as more and more attention is paid to eye health, a variety of eye care products have emerged. The following paragraphs provide information on the customs classification of some eye care products.

I. Glasses

(I) Color-changing glasses

Color-changing glasses are made of color-changing glass, under the sunlight by ultraviolet rays and short-wave visible light irradiation, the color becomes darker and the light transmittance decreases; indoors or in the dark lens light transmittance increases, fading back to brightness. The photochromism of the lens is automatic and reversible. The color-changing glasses can adjust the light transmittance through the color change of the lens, so that the human eye can adapt to the changes of environmental light, reduce visual fatigue and protect eyes. According to the Customs Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Tariff") and the Explanatory Notes to the Commodities and Headings of the Customs Import and Export Tariff Schedule (hereinafter referred to as the "Explanatory Notes to Tariff"), color-changing glasses are classified under the tariff line 90049010.

Some sunglasses also use color-changing lenses, which automatically adjust the lens color according to the intensity of outdoor light and provide clear vision while protecting your eyes. Such "sunglasses" should be classified as color-changing glasses according to their working principle. According to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff", ordinary sunglasses are classified under tariff line 90041000.

(II) Frame glasses

Frame glasses are the most commonly used type of glasses. A pair of frame glasses is usually composed of lens, eyeglass ring, nose pad, post and temples. The glasses are mainly made of metal, plastic or resin, natural materials, etc. They are divided into three types: full-frame, half-frame and rimless glasses. Rimless glasses are not really rimless, just processing grooves on the lens and fixing them with transparent materials such as frames, lines and screws. According to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff", frame glasses are classified under the tariff line 90049090.

In addition, frames and frame parts are to be classified under heading 9003; glass lenses not optically worked are to be classified under heading 7015; optically worked glass lenses are to be classified under heading 9001; non-glass lenses constituting the optical elements are to be classified under heading 9001.

(III) Common contact lenses

Ophthalmic lenses are lenses that correct vision. These lenses may be aspherical, spherical or cylindrical and may also be monofocal, bifocal or multifocal. Although contact lenses can be worn in direct contact with the eyeball, they also belong to "ophthalmic lenses", i.e. lenses that correct vision. They are classified under the tariff line 90013000 according to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff".

(IV) Rigid contact lenses

The professional name of rigid contact lens is "rigid gas permeable contact lens for orthokeratology", also known as "OK lens". It uses keratoplasty to change the shape of the cornea and is used to temporarily correct refractive errors. Wearing glasses at night and taking them off during the day can generally maintain clear unaided vision for a day. It is a visual axis correction device and an ophthalmic instrument. According to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff", it shall be classified under the tariff line 90185000.

Visual acuity charts, frames for prescription lenses and lens cases, which are equipment used for examination of visual acuity, are also classified under tariff line 90185000 according to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff".

II. Eye care products

(I) Eye cream

The primary functions of regular essence creams include enhancing skin plumpness, minimizing the appearance of pores, improving fine lines, and fading dark spots. On the other hand, eye creams mainly focus on improving the texture around the eyes. Although both types of products can be used around the eyes, the skin in this area is thinner, and eye-specific skincare products typically have specialized functions. Therefore, they must be classified separately. According to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff", eye cream is classified under the tariff line 33049900.

(II) Steam eye mask

The self-heating temperature control technology is adopted for steam eye masks, so that moisture in the air and iron powder form a heating element through chemical reaction inside the eye mask to generate fine warm water vapor, which can relieve eye fatigue and reduce stress. According to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff", it is generally classified under the tariff line 38249999.

(III) Eye lotion

Eye lotion is a liquid used to clean the eyes. It can help remove dirt, dust, bacteria and other harmful substances from the eyes, and also relieve symptoms such as dryness, fatigue and inflammation of the eyes. According to the "Tariff" and "Explanatory Notes to Tariff", there are mainly two commodity codes involved: tariff line 33079000 and heading 3004.

(IV) Eye beauty instrument

Eye beauty instrument usually generates heat through resistance to warm the area around eyes and promote blood circulation; it outputs micro-current through electrodes to stimulate skin tissues around eyes, increase muscle movement, improve eye skin, and beautify the skin around eyes by heating and micro-electrical stimulation. If its main function cannot be determined, it shall be classified in the tariff line 85437099 according to the general rules of classification.

 

 

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Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of this website. The Chinese version shall prevail.