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Import medical devices and instruments

Mostly 7.5% BCD and 5% IGST, plus a Health Cess. Every device needs a CDSCO import licence under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017.

Free to importHS 9018
Basic customs duty
5–7.5%
7.5% for most lines; 5% for some (tariff)
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD, unless exempted — check on ICEGATE
IGST
5%
5%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.1 bn
from 85 countries

The CBIC tariff shows 7.5% for most 9018 lines and 5% for some (for example tonometers, endoscopic fibrescopes, laparoscopes and 9018 90 99 “other”). Budget 2026–27 changed only X-ray tube and flat-panel-detector concessions in chapter 90. IGST is 5% on instruments and appliances of 9018 (Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), from 22.09.2025). Because cess and SWS interact, check the full duty for your 8-digit code on ICEGATE. Health Cess on imported medical devices of headings 9018 to 9022 under section 141 of the Finance Act, 2020 (5% when introduced). Confirm the current rate on ICEGATE. CBIC — Customs Tariff (as on 30.06.2025), import tariff by chapter ↗

What is imported

Syringes, catheters, surgical instruments, ECG machines, ultrasound scanners, endoscopes and diagnostic equipment are imported by hospitals, distributors and device companies. All medical devices are now regulated, so the importer must hold a CDSCO licence for each device before the goods arrive. Second-hand and refurbished equipment has extra conditions.

Import policy · Free to import

New devices are free under ITC(HS), subject to the CDSCO import licence under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. Pre-owned or refurbished medical equipment needs further permissions — check before buying.

Licences and registrations you need

  • CDSCO (Medical Devices Rules, 2017)Apply for an import licence in Form MD-14 on CDSCO’s online system for medical devices; the licence is granted in Form MD-15 for the listed devices and manufacturing sites. The foreign manufacturer’s quality certificates and free-sale certificate are needed.cdscomdonline.gov.in ↗
  • Legal MetrologyPackaged devices sold to consumers need the declarations required by the Packaged Commodities Rules, in addition to the labelling rules of the Medical Devices Rules.consumeraffairs.nic.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Valid MD-15 licence covering the exact device, model and manufacturing site.
  • Labels with the import licence number, batch, expiry and the importer’s details.
  • Sterility and remaining shelf life for sterile disposables.

Practical tips

  • Ask the manufacturer for its device class under Indian rules and its ISO 13485 certificate before you apply.
  • Add every model you plan to sell to the licence; an unlisted model is held at the port.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Importing refurbished scanners or monitors without the permissions needed for used equipment.
  • Assuming a low-risk device needs no licence — every class needs one now.
Sources (8)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff (as on 30.06.2025), import tariff by chapter
  2. Ministry of Finance (TRU) — explanatory letter on Budget 2026–27 customs changes
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 17.09.2025
  4. GST Council — 56th meeting press release (rates from 22.09.2025)
  5. Finance Bill, 2020 — clause on Health Cess on imported medical devices
  6. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
  7. CDSCO — Online system for medical devices
  8. ICEGATE — Customs e-filing portal (tariff and duty lookup)

Import data

Where India buys medical devices and instruments

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.1 bn
Change from 2024-25
+10.5%
Supplying countries
85
Biggest supplier
United States of America
22%
United States of America: US$ 679 mnChina: US$ 550 mnGermany: US$ 353 mnSingapore: US$ 235 mnJapan: US$ 172 mnSouth Korea: US$ 142 mnNetherlands: US$ 139 mnHong Kong: US$ 104 mnSwitzerland: US$ 92.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 69.7 mnBelgium: US$ 66.7 mnFrance: US$ 63.4 mnItaly: US$ 56.2 mnIreland: US$ 55.6 mnVietnam: US$ 47.7 mnUnited States of America: US$ 679 mnUnited States of AmericaChina: US$ 550 mnChinaGermany: US$ 353 mnGermanySingapore: US$ 235 mnSingaporeJapan: US$ 172 mnSouth Korea: US$ 142 mnNetherlands: US$ 139 mnHong Kong: US$ 104 mnHong KongSwitzerland: US$ 92.4 mnSwitzerlandMalaysia: US$ 69.7 mnBelgium: US$ 66.7 mnFrance: US$ 63.4 mnItaly: US$ 56.2 mnIreland: US$ 55.6 mnVietnam: US$ 47.7 mnIndia
Where India imports medical devices and instruments from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.46 bn1.5k2020-212021-22: US$ 2.21 bn2.2k2021-222022-23: US$ 2.34 bn2.3k2022-232023-24: US$ 2.58 bn2.6k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.8 bn2.8k2024-252025-26: US$ 3.1 bn3.1k2025-26
India’s medical devices and instruments imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 679 mn+8.3%
2ChinaUS$ 550 mn+12.9%
3GermanyUS$ 353 mn+25.1%
4SingaporeUS$ 235 mn+12.1%
5JapanUS$ 172 mn+3%
6South KoreaUS$ 142 mn+23.8%
7NetherlandsUS$ 139 mn+4.1%
8Hong KongUS$ 104 mn+34.7%
9SwitzerlandUS$ 92.4 mn+24.2%
10MalaysiaUS$ 69.7 mn+28.5%
11BelgiumUS$ 66.7 mn+2.1%
12FranceUS$ 63.4 mn-13.9%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. Hong KongUS$ 77.3 mn → US$ 104 mn+34.7%
  2. MalaysiaUS$ 54.2 mn → US$ 69.7 mn+28.5%
  3. GermanyUS$ 282 mn → US$ 353 mn+25.1%
  4. SwitzerlandUS$ 74.4 mn → US$ 92.4 mn+24.2%
  5. South KoreaUS$ 115 mn → US$ 142 mn+23.8%
  6. VietnamUS$ 39.9 mn → US$ 47.7 mn+19.7%

Shrinking sources

  1. FranceUS$ 73.6 mn → US$ 63.4 mn-13.9%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Other srgcl instrmnts and applncs (including vtrnry)9018 90 99US$ 615 mn+20.8%829 mn piecesUS$ 0.74 per piece
Others-of-catheters and the like; other needles9018 39 90US$ 299 mn+4.5%4.57 bn piecesUS$ 0.07 per piece
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus9018 13 00US$ 298 mn-8.5%278k piecesUS$ 1072.87 per piece
Ophthalmic surgical instrmnt and appliances9018 50 90US$ 252 mn+24.3%11.6 mn piecesUS$ 21.73 per piece
Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances in heading no. 9018 — other surgical tools9018 90 29US$ 207 mn+4.9%24.1 mn piecesUS$ 8.61 per piece
Other electro-diagnostc aparatus9018 12 90US$ 194 mn+7.8%2.2 mn piecesUS$ 86.37 per piece
Syringes,whether or not with needles9018 31 00US$ 169 mn+3.4%717 mn piecesUS$ 0.24 per piece
Artificial dialysis apparatus and haemodialyser (portable/n...9018 90 31US$ 112 mn+3.8%23.8 mn piecesUS$ 4.73 per piece
Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances in heading no. 9018 — endoscopes9018 90 44US$ 112 mn+17.3%319k piecesUS$ 352.21 per piece
Other instrmnts and aplncs,usd in dntl scince9018 49 00US$ 112 mn+12.2%63.2 mn piecesUS$ 1.77 per piece
Other diagonostics instruments9018 90 19US$ 109 mn+28.5%415 mn piecesUS$ 0.26 per piece
Other elctro-diagnostc apprts9018 19 90US$ 101 mn+30.4%3.1 mn piecesUS$ 32.45 per piece

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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