Selling lab plastics, glassware and laboratory equipment in Egypt: an importer and seller for manufacturers
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Lab plasticware and glassware pay 10% import duty in Egypt, centrifuges, microscopes and sterilisers 5%, and plastic articles for medical uses 2%, with 0% for EU, UK, EFTA and Turkish goods with proof of origin (Egyptian Customs tariff). General-purpose lab products are not IVDs, but specimen receptacles such as blood-collection tubes are, and need an EDA licence with the first three batches tested (EDA IVD rules); graduated glassware, graduated plastics and centrifuges are also not released without Weights & Measures approval. Egypt imported US$9.40 million of sterilisers in 2024, led by Italy, and US$6.33 million of centrifuges, led by Germany (World Bank WITS).
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Hospitals, labs and clinics in Egypt can order from the UltraTeb online shop.
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Supply your products to Egypt — and from there to Africa and the Middle East — with UltraTeb Market Access.
Apply — 2 minutesUltraTeb Market Access is a zero-upfront-fee route into Egypt's medical market: UltraTeb registers, imports, markets, stores and sells your product, shares the risk, and pays you when it sells.
Buying lab and diagnostic products in Egypt? Laboratories and hospitals can see UltraTeb's lab and diagnostics range and ask for a quote on UltraTeb's B2B web shop: lab and diagnostics products on shop.ultrateb.com. The rest of this page is for manufacturers who want to sell in Egypt.
What are the key facts for lab plastics, glassware and equipment in Egypt?
| Fact | Value | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS codes | 3926.90 lab plasticware (3926.90.90.90 other, 3926.90.90.80 graduated; plastic articles for medical instruments and uses 3926.90.50.90); 7017.10 fused-quartz lab glassware; 7017.20 low-expansion (borosilicate) lab glassware; 7017.90 other lab glassware; 8421.19 centrifuges; 9011.80 microscopes (9011.80.00.10 medical laboratory); 8419.20 sterilisers; 9027.90 microtomes (9027.90.90.10 medical) and parts | customs.gov.eg | |
| Import duty (MFN) | 10% on lab plasticware (3926.90.90.80/90) and lab glassware (7017.10.90, 7017.20, 7017.90); 0% on quartz tubes for semiconductor furnaces (7017.10.10); 2% on plastic articles for medical instruments and uses (3926.90.50.90); 5% on centrifuges, microscopes, sterilisers and microtomes. Which plastics line applies — 10% general or 2% medical-use — is a classification decision with a large price effect, so we get a broker opinion or advance ruling | customs.gov.eg | |
| Import duty with a trade agreement | 0% for EU, EFTA, UK and Turkish origin and under the MERCOSUR FTA, with proof of origin. AfCFTA: 100% (group A) or 60% (group B) reduction; Serbia: 20–100% reduction depending on the line. Goods from China, India, Korea, Japan and the USA pay the MFN rate. On 7017.10.90 the tariff also shows a 7.5% EU-partnership rate beside the 100% EU reduction; the two are inconsistent, so we confirm before quoting EU-origin quartzware | customs.gov.eg | |
| Import VAT | Consumables (plasticware, glassware, specimen containers): 14% shown on the official tariff, probably outside Law 149 of 2026's 5% rate for 'devices'. Equipment (centrifuges, microscopes, sterilisers): 14% shown, possibly 5% when a lab or hospital uses it to provide a service — unconfirmed, so we confirm your product's rate before pricing | mof.gov.eg | |
| EDA route | General-purpose lab products are not IVDs unless the manufacturer specifically intends them for IVD examination. Specimen receptacles for the primary containment of human specimens, vacuum or not, are IVDs and follow the IVD rules. Lab and diagnostic equipment is imported on EDA import approvals under guideline GL.CAMD.004. The tariff also attaches the EDA-approval instruction (ق4120) to all 7017 glassware lines and to medical microscopes and sterilisers | edaegypt.gov.eg | |
| Typical class | General lab products: no EDA class unless intended for IVD use. Specimen receptacles: general IVD. Laboratory sterilisers used for medical devices: Class IIa–IIb under EU rules. Microscopes and centrifuges for IVD use: general IVD instruments. Placement of specific equipment is checked per product | edaegypt.gov.eg | |
| Trap: Weights & Measures approval | Graduated or calibrated glassware (all 7017 lines), graduated plastic articles (3926.90.90.80), centrifuges (8421.19) and many analytical instruments are not released without approval of the Weights & Measures Administration (Assay and Weights Authority) | customs.gov.eg | |
| Trap: where plastics ship from | Tariff rule ق4122 on the plastics lines (3926.90.50, 3926.90.90): goods imported for trade must be shipped from the country of origin or the producer's main centres, so buying through a third-country trader can block clearance | customs.gov.eg | |
| Trap: sterilisers from non-reference countries | Sterilisers and autoclaves from non-reference countries such as China, Turkey or Korea need a Free Sale Certificate from a reference country | edaegypt.gov.eg | |
| Trap: equipment needs a maintenance-centre licence | The importer's EDA register must state a valid maintenance-centre licence; used equipment only after referral to EDA's marketing-authorisation administration | edaegypt.gov.eg | |
| Trap: specimen receptacles are IVDs | Specimen receptacles such as blood-collection tubes need a 5-year IVD licence, a Free Sale Certificate from origin or a reference country, and the first three batches analysed by EDA before release | edaegypt.gov.eg | |
| Egypt lab glassware imports, 2024 (HS 7017) | 7017.90: US$1.00 million (China 0.58M, Japan 0.14M, Czech Rep. 0.07M, India 0.07M); 7017.10: US$0.60 million (China 0.43M, India 0.11M); 7017.20: US$0.36 million (Germany 0.23M) | wits.worldbank.org | 2024 |
| Egypt lab equipment imports, 2024 | Sterilisers (8419.20): US$9.40 million — Italy 3.93M, China 2.00M, Germany 1.09M, USA 0.90M, Spain 0.51M. Centrifuges (8421.19, including industrial): US$6.33 million — Germany 3.19M, Sweden 1.64M, China 0.71M, India 0.35M. Other microscopes (9011.80): US$4.20 million — Singapore 1.68M, China 1.17M, Germany 0.44M, UK 0.30M | wits.worldbank.org | 2024 |
| Lab plasticware imports | Not separable in trade data: lab plasticware sits in HS 3926.90, which covers all other articles of plastics. This is a data gap, not a zero | customs.gov.eg | |
| Search demand we measured | 'scientific equipment distributors' 210 searches a month and 'lab equipment suppliers in egypt' 40 searches a month, worldwide (Google Keyword Planner, UltraTeb measurement) | ads.google.com |
Duty and VAT from Egypt's official tariff (Egyptian Customs Authority), where the release instructions (EDA approval, Weights & Measures, shipment from origin) are also shown. EDA rules from its lab and diagnostic equipment import guideline GL.CAMD.004, its IVD guideline GL.CAMD.001 and its medical equipment import guideline GL.CAMD.009. Trade values are Egypt-reported CIF imports for whole HS lines (UN Comtrade via World Bank WITS), including non-medical uses. Last verified 2026-09-25.
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What does it take to sell lab plastics, glassware and equipment in Egypt?
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Sort your range by intended use
General-purpose labware is not an IVD; specimen receptacles and labware you intend for IVD use are, and take the IVD route. Equipment is imported on EDA import approvals, and the tariff attaches an EDA-approval instruction to lab glassware and to medical microscopes and sterilisers.
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Have the certificates ready
ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 (ISO 13485 for IVD specimen receptacles), CE under the IVD Directive or IVDR for specimen receptacles and IVD-intended labware, a Declaration of Conformity, and a Free Sale Certificate for IVD items. Calibration or class certificates for volumetric glassware (ISO 4787 or DIN) and EN 61010-1 electrical safety for equipment are common, though not named as EDA requirements.
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Legalise, and check the steriliser rule
Free Sale Certificates for IVD items from non-reference countries must be legalised, and sterilisers or autoclaves from non-reference countries such as China, Turkey or Korea need a Free Sale Certificate from a reference country.
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Settle the tariff line and ship from origin
Lab plasticware can pay 10% or 2% depending on its line, so we get a broker opinion or advance ruling first. Plastics bought for trade must ship from the country of origin or the producer's main centres.
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Clear customs with Weights & Measures approval
Graduated glassware, graduated plastics and centrifuges need Weights & Measures approval before release; then duty (0% with an EU, UK, EFTA or Turkish proof of origin) and import VAT.
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Sell to the right buyers
Private lab chains and hospital laboratories, universities and research institutes through tenders, and pharmaceutical, food and industrial quality-control laboratories.
Who buys lab plastics, glassware and lab equipment in Egypt?
- Private lab chains. Private testing is concentrated: the largest group holds about 45% of private diagnostics through 300+ branches, and several other chains follow.
- Hospital laboratories — public hospitals through UPA tripartite contracts, and private hospital groups.
- Universities and research institutes, through tenders.
- Pharmaceutical, food and industrial quality-control laboratories — non-medical buyers of the same labware.
Why does the tariff line matter so much for lab plastics and glassware?
Because classification can move the duty from 2% to 10%. General lab plasticware sits on 3926.90.90.80/90 at 10%, plastic articles for medical instruments and uses on 3926.90.50.90 at 2%, and lab glassware on 7017 at 10% (Egyptian Customs tariff). Graduated items and centrifuges also need Weights & Measures approval before release, and plastics bought for trade must ship from the country of origin or the producer's main centres.
So we settle the line with a broker opinion or advance ruling before the first shipment, and the free market study prices your range on the rate that will actually apply. The second question is intended use: general-purpose labware is not an IVD, but specimen receptacles are, and they need an EDA licence with the first three batches tested.
How does UltraTeb Market Access sell your lab plastics, glassware and equipment?
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Free market study and pricing
We check where your range fits Egyptian demand and price it for private labs, hospital laboratories and, where it can compete, public tenders.
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EDA approvals and registration
We sort your range into general lab products, EDA-approved equipment and IVD items such as specimen receptacles, tell you which certificates need legalising, and file what each one needs.
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Import, customs, duty and VAT
The tariff-line ruling, Weights & Measures approval for graduated items and centrifuges, shipment-from-origin checks, clearance, and the duty and VAT paid by us. We tell you which origin document gets EU, UK, EFTA or Turkish goods in at 0%.
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Warehousing by lot
Stored and picked by lot, first-expiry-first-out where items carry an expiry, with your stock visible to you at all times.
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Marketing and distribution
Arabic and English product pages on shop.ultrateb.com and campaigns once EDA advertising approval is in place where it applies, our sales team calling on private labs, hospital laboratories and universities, and bids in UPA tenders where your product can compete.
“Tubes, tips and glassware win on reliability, not on slogans. We handle the import and the selling with zero upfront fees, and we are paid when your products sell.” — Mohamed Dabees, founder, UltraTeb
Frequently asked questions
What import duty do lab plastics, glassware and equipment pay in Egypt?
Lab plasticware (3926.90.90.80/90) and lab glassware (7017) pay 10%, plastic articles for medical uses (3926.90.50.90) 2%, and centrifuges, microscopes, sterilisers and microtomes 5%. EU, UK, EFTA and Turkish goods enter at 0% with valid proof of origin; goods from China, India, Korea, Japan and the USA pay the MFN rate (Egyptian Customs tariff).
Is the VAT on lab equipment 14% or 5%?
The official tariff shows 14%. Law 149 of 2026 added a 5% rate for devices used to provide a service, which may cover equipment a lab or hospital uses that way but probably not consumables such as plasticware and glassware. We confirm your product's rate before we price it.
Do lab consumables need EDA registration?
General-purpose lab products are not IVDs unless you intend them for IVD examination. Specimen receptacles such as blood-collection tubes are IVDs and need a 5-year licence with the first three batches tested, and lab equipment is imported on EDA import approvals (EDA lab equipment guideline).
What is the Weights & Measures approval?
Graduated or calibrated glassware, graduated plastic articles, centrifuges and many analytical instruments are not released from customs without approval of the Weights & Measures Administration (Assay and Weights Authority). Calibration or class certificates for volumetric glassware help the file.
Do my certificates need to be legalised?
For IVD items such as specimen receptacles, a Free Sale Certificate from a non-reference country must be legalised. Sterilisers and autoclaves from non-reference countries such as China, Turkey or Korea need a Free Sale Certificate from a reference country. See EDA reference countries.
Can I ship lab plastics to Egypt through a trading hub?
It is risky. Tariff rule ق4122 requires plastics imported for trade to be shipped from the country of origin or the producer's main centres, so goods routed through a third-country trader can be refused. We check the routing with the customs broker before the first shipment.
Who pays for registration, duty and VAT with UltraTeb Market Access?
We do. Registration, import, duty and VAT, storage and marketing are funded by UltraTeb, and you are paid when your goods sell.
Where can buyers in Egypt order lab and diagnostic products?
On UltraTeb's B2B web shop: lab and diagnostics products on shop.ultrateb.com.
Sell your lab plastics, glassware and equipment in Egypt — with zero upfront fees.
Send us your range and certificates. We check demand, the tariff line and the EDA route in a free market study, then import, store, market and sell. You're paid when we sell.