CLA-2-84:OT:RR:NC:N1:103
Marty Trabish
Plasmapp America Inc.
2281 Griffin Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
RE: The tariff classification of low-temperature sterilizers from South Korea
Dear Mr. Trabish:
In your letter dated October 9, 2025, you requested a tariff classification ruling.
The Sterlink series of tabletop sterilizers are described as low-temperature hydrogen peroxide plasma
sterilizers used in medical, surgical, dental, and veterinary settings. The sterilizers are available in several
versions, including the mini, plus, and U510 models. They differ in size and chamber capacity but are
functionally the same. All of the devices use vaporized hydrogen peroxide to sterilize heat- and
moisture-sensitive medical instruments.
Each unit has a vacuum chamber, a heating block, a pump assembly, a touchscreen, and a plasma generator.
During its operation, objects requiring sterilization are placed in the vacuum chamber. Liquid hydrogen
peroxide is heated, vaporized, and then diffused into the chamber, which is maintained at a zero-torr pressure
to keep the vaporized sterilant in a stable gaseous form. Afterward, the pump evacuates the chamber and
sends the sterilant into a dedicated pathway where it is broken down into oxygen and water vapor by the
plasma generator.
The applicable subheading for the Sterlink sterilizer (mini, plus, and U510 models) will be 8419.20.0010,
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which provides for “Machinery, plant or
laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated (excluding furnaces, ovens and other equipment of
heading 8514), for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change of temperature such as heating,
cooking, roasting, distilling, rectifying, sterilizing, pasteurizing, steaming, drying, evaporating, vaporizing,
condensing or cooling, other than machinery or plant of a kind used for domestic purposes; instantaneous or
storage water heaters, nonelectric; parts thereof: Medical, surgical or laboratory sterilizers: Medical or
surgical sterilizers.” The general rate of duty will be free.
Effective April 5, 2025, Executive Orders implemented “Reciprocal Tariffs.” All imported merchandise must
be reported with either the Chapter 99 provision under which the reciprocal tariff applies or one of the
Chapter 99 provisions covering exceptions to the reciprocal tariffs. At this time, products of South Korea will
be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 15 percent. At the time of entry, you must report the
Chapter 99 heading applicable to your product classification, i.e., 9903.02.56, in addition to subheading
8419.20.0010, HTSUS, listed above.
The tariffs and additional duties cited above are current as of this ruling’s issuance. Duty rates are provided
for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying
duty rates are provided at https://hts.usitc.gov/.
The holding set forth above applies only to the specific factual situation and merchandise description as
identified in the ruling request. This position is clearly set forth in Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Section 177.9(b)(1). This section states that a ruling letter is issued on the assumption that all of the
information furnished in the ruling letter, whether directly, by reference, or by implication, is accurate and
complete in every material respect. In the event that the facts are modified in any way, or if the goods do not
conform to these facts at time of importation, you should bring this to the attention of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) and submit a request for a new ruling in accordance with 19 CFR 177.2.
Additionally, we note that the material facts described in the foregoing ruling may be subject to periodic
verification by CBP.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs and Border Protection
Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents
filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, please contact
National Import Specialist Paul Huang at [email protected].
Sincerely,
(for)
Evan Conceicao
Designated Official Performing the Duties of the Division Director
National Commodity Specialist Division