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World Customs Organization releases a major update to the Harmonized System, effective January 1, 2028
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HS 2028 introduces new, more detailed classifications for vaccines and essential medical goods
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New vaccine classifications introduced with 38 subheadings for human medicine
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Categories include measles, polio, tuberculosis, influenza, coronaviruses, Ebola, malaria, and more
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Pipeline vaccines like Group B Streptococcus included for monitoring future trade flows
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Essential health goods such as ventilators, protective masks, and ambulances gain new visibility
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Changes aim to improve trade visibility, speed up customs clearance, and support health emergency preparedness
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Governments and businesses given a two-year transition period to update laws, systems, and procedures
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has published a major update to the Harmonized System (HS), the international classification framework for assigning standardized codes to traded goods, with the revised edition set to take effect on January 1, 2028.
The HS 2028 amendments conclude six years of technical work by the WCO’s 187 member administrations and are designed to give customs authorities and policymakers greater visibility over critical health-related goods and emergency supplies.
The HS, managed by the WCO, underpins customs tariffs and international trade statistics in more than 200 countries and economies.
The revisions introduce significantly expanded and more granular classifications for vaccines and selected medical equipment, addressing gaps that became evident during recent global health crises.
The WCO said the changes are intended to facilitate faster customs clearance, consistent classification, and more effective implementation of trade and health policies.
“These additions in the HS will provide visibility to products critical to health programmes and emergency response, enabling faster Customs clearance and ease of identification,” the WCO said.
A central feature of HS 2028 is the restructuring of vaccine classifications.
Under HS 2022, vaccines for human use were grouped under just two subheadings, limiting governments’ ability to monitor trade flows and apply targeted trade measures. HS 2028 introduces new headings (30.07 & 30.08) and subheadings that distinguish vaccines by disease type, outbreak risk, and immunization priority, in line with World Health Organization guidance.
“This positive change to the Harmonized System allows for a greater understanding of vaccine availability and opens more opportunities for facilitated clearance of urgently required vaccines and medical equipment,” WCO secretary general Ian Saunders said in a media release.
“It is a tangible contribution from Customs to global development, the protection of society, and the ability of governments to respond effectively to future urgent demands,” added Saunders.
Vaccines for human medicine will be classified under a dedicated heading (30.07) with 38 new subheadings (six-digit codes) covering a wide range of diseases, including measles, polio, tuberculosis, influenza, dengue, malaria, coronaviruses, and Ebola.
In addition to the long-established Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, HS 2028 introduces a new subheading for “other tuberculosis vaccines.” The change anticipates the arrival of vaccines currently in development for adolescents and adults, several of which are already in advanced clinical trials. A separate subheading has also been created for “Streptococcus” vaccines, reflecting preparations for the expected approval of a Group B Streptococcus vaccine now nearing regulatory clearance.
Beyond vaccines, HS 2028 creates new subheadings for essential medical and emergency-response goods, including:
- ambulances and mobile clinics
- protective face masks and shields
- body bags of plastics
- pulse oximeters and multi-parameter patient monitors
- intubation equipment, suction pumps
- medical ventilators and drop counters
These changes build on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier health emergencies, when the absence of specific tariff codes complicated the rollout of trade facilitation measures.
The WCO said it worked closely with the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization to ensure the new classifications are practical at the border and supportive of global health preparedness.
With the HS 2028 amendments now adopted, customs administrations, governments, and businesses have roughly two years to update legislation, IT systems, procedures, and training programs ahead of implementation.
The WCO said coordinated preparation will be critical to ensuring a smooth and uniform transition worldwide.
READ: WCO, WTO sign pact to enhance customs, trade cooperation
