U.S. exports of Certified Reference Materials (HS 382290) totaled $37.8M in August 2026.
Importers of Certified Reference Materials paid $858K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.42% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataCertified reference materials (CRMs) are precisely characterized substances used to calibrate analytical instruments, validate measurement methods, and ensure traceability to international metrological standards — making them indispensable in pharmaceutical quality control, environmental testing, and food-safety laboratories. Classification under heading 3822 is governed by Chapter 38 Note 2, which defines CRMs by their certification documentation rather than by chemical composition, a distinction that frequently arises in customs audits. The United Kingdom and Canada are the leading US import sources, with major national metrology institutes and accredited reference material producers in both countries. Because CRMs span an enormous range of chemical matrices, importers should retain the certificate of analysis and accreditation documentation to support the heading 3822 classification against potential reclassification into a more specific chemical heading.
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845 import shipments a month
Chapter 38 Note 2 requires that a certified reference material be accompanied by a certificate stating the certified property values, measurement uncertainty, traceability to a national or international measurement standard, and the accreditation of the certifying body. Without this documentation, CBP may reclassify the product under the heading appropriate to its chemical composition. Importers should retain the original certificate of analysis and the issuing body's accreditation certificate as part of their entry records.
Yes, provided it meets the Chapter 38 Note 2 definition. However, if the CRM contains a DEA-controlled substance, an EPA-regulated chemical, or an FDA-regulated biological material, the applicable agency's import permit or authorization requirements apply independently of the customs classification. Importers should identify all regulated components and obtain the necessary permits before shipment.
Subheading 2 of 5 in heading 3822
Subheading 382290 · $37.8M of $837.4M
ImportsExports
Imports
$10.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$37.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $120.4M of Certified Reference Materials and exported $501.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3822900000 | Certfied Reference Mats, As Def in Note 2, Chap 38 | $10.2M | 8.42% | 79.60% | $858K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3822900000 | Certfied Reference Mats, As Def in Note 2, Chap 38 | $37.8M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
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Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
20.4% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.42% of imports for consumption.