The World Customs Organization (WCO) announced today (21.01.2026) the publication of a major update to the Harmonized System (HS), the international classification of goods that assigns each traded product a standardized code, used as the basis for customs tariffs and international trade statistics by more than 200 countries and economies.
According to the WCO, the modifications —which will enter into force on January 1, 2028Following a period of adaptation at the national level, six years of technical work by its 187 members, including Argentina, have culminated. The central objective is to provide greater visibility to products critical to health programs and emergency response, facilitating their identification, classification, and customs clearance.
“These additions to the Harmonized System will allow for faster clearances and easier identification of goods essential to public health,” the WCO highlighted in its official statement.
The WCO explained that global vaccine production is concentrated in a few countries, making international trade an essential channel for global distribution. However, The classification in force in the HS 2022 was limited, as it only included two subheadings: one for vaccines for human use and another for veterinary use.
Facing this scenario, The SA 2028 introduces new headings (30.07 and 30.08) and specific subheadings for vaccines that represent significant or strategic commercial volumes, and that respond to priority diseases from a health perspective.
The new structure:
- distinguishes between endemic and outbreak-prone diseases, and
- It aligns with the vaccination recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WCO's vision
El WCO Secretary General, Ian SaundersHe emphasized the significance of the change: “This positive change in the Harmonized System allows for a better understanding of vaccine availability and opens up more opportunities for facilitating the release of urgently needed vaccines and medical equipment. It is a tangible contribution from Customs to global development, to the protection of society, and to the ability of governments to respond effectively to future urgent demands.”
According to Saunders, by including vaccines against endemic and pandemic threats, SA 2028 reflects the need to anticipate health risks and highlights the role of Customs in the security and well-being of societies.
new classification
Vaccines for human medicine will be included in lon item 30.07, subdivided into 38 subheadingswhich include, among others, vaccines against:
- measles, rubella, chickenpox, mumps and shingles;
- poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis and Haemophilus influenzae type B;
- tuberculosis, pneumococcus, rotavirus and human papillomavirus;
- meningitis, dengue, malaria, rabies and cholera;
- influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and coronavirus.
In addition, the WCO incorporated a subheading for “other tuberculosis vaccines”, anticipating ongoing developments, and another specifically for vaccines against Streptococcus, even though some of these products are not yet on the market.
This is an exceptional case, aimed at monitoring the effective arrival of strategic vaccines to their destinations and in the necessary quantities, the agency explained.
emergency preparedness
The update too strengthens the role of SA as a tool for crisis management health. During emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the Ebola outbreak, many countries faced difficulties in implementing rapid trade measures due to a lack of specific codes for certain medical supplies.
In response to those experiences, The SA 2028 incorporates new subheadings for essential goods such as:
- ambulances and mobile clinics,
- masks and face shields,
- pulse oximeters and multiparametric monitors,
- medical ventilators,
- intubation devices and plastic body bags.
Next steps
With the amendments now accepted, customs administrations, governments and trade operators have two years to adapt their systems, regulations and procedures, in anticipation of the entry into force of SA 2028 scheduled for 1 January 2028.
In this context, the update of the Harmonized System reaffirms the strategic role of Customs in protecting public health and preparing for emergencies. To effectively address these tasks, coordinated and harmonized action at the international level is essential. In this regard, it is worth recalling that the World Customs Organization, as the only international organization with specific competence in customs matters, is the authoritative voice of the international customs community.WCO statement)
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