Chapter 85 covers electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles. This chapter has a broad scope, ranging from simple electrical components (such as switches and sockets) to complex electronic systems (such as integrated circuits and communication equipment). Infrared bulbs, as electric light source products, belong to lighting devices within electrical equipment and are therefore classified in this chapter. Heading 8539 covers various electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, arc lamps, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, etc. This heading includes not only ordinary lighting bulbs but also special-purpose bulbs such as infrared bulbs and ultraviolet lamps. Infrared bulbs use electrical energy to produce infrared radiation for heating, drying, physiotherapy, and other purposes, and are typical goods of this heading. Code 853971 is a six-digit subheading. The first two digits 85 indicate Chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles). Digits 3-4, 39, indicate heading 8539 (electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units, ultraviolet or infrared lamps; arc lamps; light-emitting diode (LED) lamps). Digits 5-6, 71, indicate subheading 8539.71, i.e., infrared bulbs. Specifically, the 5th digit 7 indicates that this subheading is a branch under heading 8539, and the 6th digit 1 further specifies infrared bulbs. Therefore, 853971 fully represents infrared bulbs. Infrared bulbs are classified under 853971 rather than other lighting bulb codes because their core function is to emit infrared radiation for specific purposes such as heating, drying, and physiotherapy. They differ from ordinary incandescent lamps (8539.10) or fluorescent lamps (8539.31), and also from ultraviolet lamps (8539.49). In customs classification, based on their working principle and primary use, infrared bulbs, as a type of electric light source, conform to the description of heading 8539, and subheading 8539.71 explicitly lists them, so they are classified under this code.
Chapter
Chapter 85 covers electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles. This chapter has a broad scope, ranging from simple electrical components (such as switches and sockets) to complex electronic systems (such as integrated circuits and communication equipment). Infrared bulbs, as electric light source products, belong to lighting devices within electrical equipment and are therefore classified in this chapter.
Heading
Heading 8539 covers various electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, arc lamps, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, etc. This heading includes not only ordinary lighting bulbs but also special-purpose bulbs such as infrared bulbs and ultraviolet lamps. Infrared bulbs use electrical energy to produce infrared radiation for heating, drying, physiotherapy, and other purposes, and are typical goods of this heading.
Digit Breakdown
Code 853971 is a six-digit subheading. The first two digits 85 indicate Chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles). Digits 3-4, 39, indicate heading 8539 (electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units, ultraviolet or infrared lamps; arc lamps; light-emitting diode (LED) lamps). Digits 5-6, 71, indicate subheading 8539.71, i.e., infrared bulbs. Specifically, the 5th digit 7 indicates that this subheading is a branch under heading 8539, and the 6th digit 1 further specifies infrared bulbs. Therefore, 853971 fully represents infrared bulbs.
Classification Basis
Infrared bulbs are classified under 853971 rather than other lighting bulb codes because their core function is to emit infrared radiation for specific purposes such as heating, drying, and physiotherapy. They differ from ordinary incandescent lamps (8539.10) or fluorescent lamps (8539.31), and also from ultraviolet lamps (8539.49). In customs classification, based on their working principle and primary use, infrared bulbs, as a type of electric light source, conform to the description of heading 8539, and subheading 8539.71 explicitly lists them, so they are classified under this code.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The Chinese and foreign language names of the declared goods, which should accurately reflect the product attributes, such as "infrared bulb" or "Infrared bulb". Use: Explain the specific application scenarios of the infrared bulb, such as industrial heating, drying, physiotherapy, warming, etc. Brand: Fill in the brand or manufacturer name of the product; if there is no brand, fill in "no brand". Model: Fill in the product model or specification code to identify the specific product. Power: The rated power of the infrared bulb, usually in watts (W). Voltage: The rated voltage of the bulb, in volts (V). Material: The main material of the bulb, such as glass, quartz, etc. Contains Mercury: Declare whether the bulb contains mercury, which affects environmental protection and classification. Product Name: Infrared bulb; Use: Industrial heating and drying; Brand: Philips; Model: IR-500; Power: 500W; Voltage: 220V; Material: Quartz glass; Contains Mercury: No. Misreporting infrared bulbs as ordinary incandescent lamps, leading to classification errors. Use description not specific, failing to highlight infrared characteristics, which may raise doubts about classification. Ignoring the declaration of "Contains Mercury", affecting environmental regulation and tax rate application.
Product Name
The Chinese and foreign language names of the declared goods, which should accurately reflect the product attributes, such as "infrared bulb" or "Infrared bulb".
⚠️ Incorrectly declaring as "heating lamp" or "physiotherapy lamp", leading to classification disputes.
Use
Explain the specific application scenarios of the infrared bulb, such as industrial heating, drying, physiotherapy, warming, etc.
⚠️ Vaguely filling in "for lighting" without reflecting infrared characteristics.
Brand
Fill in the brand or manufacturer name of the product; if there is no brand, fill in "no brand".
⚠️ Confusing brand with model, or omitting the brand.
Model
Fill in the product model or specification code to identify the specific product.
⚠️ Incomplete or incorrect model entry.
Power
The rated power of the infrared bulb, usually in watts (W).
⚠️ Incorrect power unit, such as mistakenly filling in kilowatts.
Voltage
The rated voltage of the bulb, in volts (V).
⚠️ Failing to fill in voltage or filling it in incorrectly.
Material
The main material of the bulb, such as glass, quartz, etc.
⚠️ Material description too simple, such as only filling in "glass".
Contains Mercury
Declare whether the bulb contains mercury, which affects environmental protection and classification.
⚠️ Incorrectly declaring mercury content, leading to different regulatory conditions.
Misreporting infrared bulbs as ordinary incandescent lamps, leading to classification errors.
Use description not specific, failing to highlight infrared characteristics, which may raise doubts about classification.
Ignoring the declaration of "Contains Mercury", affecting environmental regulation and tax rate application.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the function, working principle, and primary use of the goods. Infrared bulbs generate infrared radiation through electrical energy, mainly used for heating, drying, physiotherapy, etc., rather than ordinary lighting. According to the Import and Export Tariff and its notes, heading 8539 covers electric filament or discharge lamps, including infrared lamps, and subheading 8539.71 explicitly lists infrared bulbs. Therefore, as long as the goods have infrared emission function and are mainly used for non-lighting purposes, they should be classified under 853971. 853910 Sealed beam lamp units: Sealed beam lamp units are mainly used for directional lighting with concentrated beams, while infrared bulbs emit infrared radiation for heating, etc., with different functions. 853931 Fluorescent lamps, hot cathode: Fluorescent lamps produce visible light through gas discharge, while infrared bulbs produce infrared rays, with different principles and uses. 853949 Ultraviolet or infrared lamps: 853949 is a general term for ultraviolet or infrared lamps, but 853971 specifically refers to infrared bulbs. If the goods are clearly infrared bulbs, they should be classified under 853971 first. 851679 Other electrothermic appliances: 851679 covers electrothermic appliances such as electric blankets and electric furnaces, while infrared bulbs themselves are bulbs and belong to electric light sources, not electrothermic appliances. Does the product mainly emit infrared rays? Is it used for non-lighting purposes such as heating, drying, physiotherapy? Does it belong to electric bulbs or discharge lamps? Does it contain mercury? Does this affect classification? Is it confused with ultraviolet lamps or ordinary incandescent lamps?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the function, working principle, and primary use of the goods. Infrared bulbs generate infrared radiation through electrical energy, mainly used for heating, drying, physiotherapy, etc., rather than ordinary lighting. According to the Import and Export Tariff and its notes, heading 8539 covers electric filament or discharge lamps, including infrared lamps, and subheading 8539.71 explicitly lists infrared bulbs. Therefore, as long as the goods have infrared emission function and are mainly used for non-lighting purposes, they should be classified under 853971.
Confused Codes：
853910 - Sealed beam lamp units
Sealed beam lamp units are mainly used for directional lighting with concentrated beams, while infrared bulbs emit infrared radiation for heating, etc., with different functions.
853931 - Fluorescent lamps, hot cathode
Fluorescent lamps produce visible light through gas discharge, while infrared bulbs produce infrared rays, with different principles and uses.
853949 - Ultraviolet or infrared lamps
853949 is a general term for ultraviolet or infrared lamps, but 853971 specifically refers to infrared bulbs. If the goods are clearly infrared bulbs, they should be classified under 853971 first.
851679 - Other electrothermic appliances
851679 covers electrothermic appliances such as electric blankets and electric furnaces, while infrared bulbs themselves are bulbs and belong to electric light sources, not electrothermic appliances.
Self-Check：
✓ Does the product mainly emit infrared rays?
✓ Is it used for non-lighting purposes such as heating, drying, physiotherapy?
✓ Does it belong to electric bulbs or discharge lamps?
✓ Does it contain mercury? Does this affect classification?
✓ Is it confused with ultraviolet lamps or ordinary incandescent lamps?
❓ FAQ
What is the HS code for infrared bulbs? The HS code for infrared bulbs is 853971. This code belongs to Chapter 85, heading 8539, subheading 8539.71. When declaring for import and export, this code should be used. How to distinguish infrared bulbs from ultraviolet lamps? Infrared bulbs emit infrared rays, mainly used for heating, drying, and physiotherapy; ultraviolet lamps emit ultraviolet rays, used for sterilization, curing, etc. In HS codes, infrared bulbs are classified under 853971, while ultraviolet lamps are usually classified under 853949. What are the declaration elements for infrared bulbs? Declaration elements include product name, use, brand, model, power, voltage, material, whether it contains mercury, etc. Specific requirements are subject to customs, and it is recommended to refer to the Customs Import and Export Commodity Specification Declaration Catalog of the People's Republic of China. What is the tariff rate for infrared bulbs? Tariff rates vary by country, trade agreements, origin, etc., and may be adjusted. It is recommended to check the latest Import and Export Tariff or consult customs for accurate rates. Are infrared bulbs and ordinary incandescent lamps classified under the same code? No. Ordinary incandescent lamps are classified under 853910 (sealed beam lamp units) or 853922 (other incandescent lamps), while infrared bulbs are classified under 853971. Classification should be distinguished based on function. What are the regulatory conditions for infrared bulbs? Regulatory conditions vary by country and may involve import licenses for mechanical and electrical products, energy efficiency labels, environmental requirements, etc. Specifics should be checked in the customs regulatory conditions code table. If an infrared bulb is used for lighting, can it still be classified under 853971? If it is mainly used for lighting, it may be classified under the code for ordinary lighting bulbs. However, infrared bulbs are usually used for non-lighting purposes. If they also have lighting functions, classification should be based on the primary use. What should be noted when selling infrared bulbs via cross-border e-commerce? Ensure the product complies with the safety standards of the destination country, correctly declare the HS code, and understand import taxes and regulatory requirements. Also, pay attention to packaging and labeling requirements to avoid customs clearance issues.
Q: What is the HS code for infrared bulbs?
A: The HS code for infrared bulbs is 853971. This code belongs to Chapter 85, heading 8539, subheading 8539.71. When declaring for import and export, this code should be used.
Q: How to distinguish infrared bulbs from ultraviolet lamps?
A: Infrared bulbs emit infrared rays, mainly used for heating, drying, and physiotherapy; ultraviolet lamps emit ultraviolet rays, used for sterilization, curing, etc. In HS codes, infrared bulbs are classified under 853971, while ultraviolet lamps are usually classified under 853949.
Q: What are the declaration elements for infrared bulbs?
A: Declaration elements include product name, use, brand, model, power, voltage, material, whether it contains mercury, etc. Specific requirements are subject to customs, and it is recommended to refer to the Customs Import and Export Commodity Specification Declaration Catalog of the People's Republic of China.
Q: What is the tariff rate for infrared bulbs?
A: Tariff rates vary by country, trade agreements, origin, etc., and may be adjusted. It is recommended to check the latest Import and Export Tariff or consult customs for accurate rates.
Q: Are infrared bulbs and ordinary incandescent lamps classified under the same code?
A: No. Ordinary incandescent lamps are classified under 853910 (sealed beam lamp units) or 853922 (other incandescent lamps), while infrared bulbs are classified under 853971. Classification should be distinguished based on function.
Q: What are the regulatory conditions for infrared bulbs?
A: Regulatory conditions vary by country and may involve import licenses for mechanical and electrical products, energy efficiency labels, environmental requirements, etc. Specifics should be checked in the customs regulatory conditions code table.
Q: If an infrared bulb is used for lighting, can it still be classified under 853971?
A: If it is mainly used for lighting, it may be classified under the code for ordinary lighting bulbs. However, infrared bulbs are usually used for non-lighting purposes. If they also have lighting functions, classification should be based on the primary use.
Q: What should be noted when selling infrared bulbs via cross-border e-commerce?
A: Ensure the product complies with the safety standards of the destination country, correctly declare the HS code, and understand import taxes and regulatory requirements. Also, pay attention to packaging and labeling requirements to avoid customs clearance issues.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.