SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of pharmaceutical goods, n.e.s. (SITC 54199) totaled $216.2M in April 2026, traded with 45 countries.
Importers of Pharmaceutical Goods, N.E.S. paid $9.1M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 9.8% on $92.6M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataServing as a catch-all for pharmaceutical articles that do not fit more specific SITC headings, this residual category can encompass a wide variety of products — from sterile empty capsules and suppository bases to pharmaceutical-grade excipients and specialized drug delivery systems. Because the heading is defined by exclusion rather than by a specific product characteristic, correct classification requires ruling out all more specific pharmaceutical headings before assigning goods here. FDA admissibility requirements vary considerably depending on the actual nature of the product: a drug excipient, a medical device component, or a finished pharmaceutical each triggers a different regulatory pathway.
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SITC 54199 is a residual 'not elsewhere specified' heading, meaning it should only be used after systematically ruling out all more specific pharmaceutical headings. Importers should document the classification analysis — identifying the product's composition, form, and intended use — and confirm that no more specific heading applies before defaulting to this category. Misclassification into a residual heading when a specific heading exists can trigger customs queries or penalties.
Pharmaceutical excipients used in drug manufacturing are generally subject to FDA oversight as drug components, and foreign manufacturers supplying excipients to US drug makers are expected to comply with applicable GMP standards. While excipients themselves may not always require a separate NDA, the facilities producing them can be subject to FDA inspection, and importers should ensure their suppliers maintain appropriate quality system documentation.
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Monthly import values over time