Pharmaceutical products (chapter 30): which countries import it
Chapter 30 covers pharmaceutical products: medicaments, blood products, vaccines, and medical devices. The US, Germany, and Switzerland are the largest…
Published on 14 September 2026Updated on 27 September 2026
Chapter 30 covers pharmaceutical products: medicaments, blood products, vaccines, and medical devices. The US, Germany, and Switzerland are the largest importers worldwide. Spain exported USD 28.5 billion to global markets in 2025. Exports require regulatory approval in destination markets and compliance with strict manufacturing standards.
Fact sheet
- Code
- 30
- Sector
- Health, Cosmetics and Chemicals
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| United States | 213,822,857,601 |
| Germany | 85,438,507,719 |
| Switzerland | 78,970,468,968 |
| Belgium | 48,254,285,149 |
| China | 42,354,718,174 |
| France | 40,166,692,831 |
| Italy | 37,714,095,649 |
| Japan | 32,461,380,399 |
| United Kingdom | 31,580,309,116 |
| Spain | 28,518,384,773 |
| Netherlands | 26,548,351,075 |
| Ireland | 25,260,444,739 |
| Canada | 18,895,066,825 |
| Poland | 15,667,741,586 |
| Brazil | 14,819,037,359 |
Imports declared by each country from the world. Countries report with a delay: the period is the latest with consolidated data.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 27 September 2026
Headings in this chapter
- Glands and other organs (extracts, secretions thereof) for organo-therapeutic uses, dried, powdered or not; heparin and its salts; other human or animal substances for therapeutic or prophylactic uses n.e.c.Heading 3001
- Human blood; animal blood for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera, other blood fractions, immunological products, modified or obtained by biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) etcHeading 3002
- Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) of two or more constituents mixed together for therapeutic or prophylactic use not in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail saleHeading 3003
- Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic use, put up in measured doses (incl. those in the form of transdermal admin. systems) or packed for retail saleHeading 3004
- Wadding, gauze, bandages (dressings, adhesive plasters, poultices), impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances or in forms or packings for retail sale, for medical, surgical or veterinary useHeading 3005
- Pharmaceutical goodsHeading 3006
Trade fairs in this sector
What you need to know to export pharmaceuticals from Spain
Pharmaceutical products in chapter 30 include medicaments (headings 3003 and 3004), blood-derived products (3002), medical devices like bandages and gauze (3005), and other pharmaceutical goods (3006). Each heading has different regulatory requirements depending on the destination market.
Medicaments must be registered with the health authority of each destination country before export. In the EU, this is managed through the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or national regulatory bodies. Outside the EU, each country has its own approval process: the US requires FDA clearance, Switzerland requires Swissmedic approval, and so on. Registration can take months and involves clinical data, manufacturing documentation, and quality dossiers.
Trade fairs like CPhI Worldwide, Infarma, and MEDICA are critical for finding importers and distributors. These are annual or twice-yearly events where pharmaceutical companies source suppliers. Plan to attend with samples, regulatory summaries, and capacity data.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a product registered in a new market?
Registration timelines vary by country. In the EU, a centralized procedure through EMA typically takes 210 days after submission; national procedures can be faster or slower. The US FDA standard review is 6 to 10 months; priority review is 6 months. Switzerland (Swissmedic) usually takes 6 to 12 months. Before timelines, you need to prepare a complete dossier, which can take 6 to 18 months depending on the product's complexity and the data you already hold.
What should I check before pitching to importers in the US, Germany, or Switzerland?
Confirm that your product is or can be registered in that country. Check whether the importer holds exclusive distribution rights or works with multiple suppliers. Verify that your manufacturing site has GMP certification recognized in that market. Ask whether the importer requires specific packaging, labeling, or quality dossiers. Finally, confirm tariff classification and any trade agreements that apply—for example, Spain and Switzerland have a bilateral trade agreement that may offer advantages on certain products.
Can I export directly to pharmacies or hospitals, or must I go through an importer?
This depends on the destination country's regulations. In most developed markets, pharmaceutical importers and wholesalers are required as intermediaries for legal, liability, and traceability reasons. Direct sales to end-users are rare for chapter 30 products and typically only possible for high-value or specialized items. Always check the importer's requirements and the regulatory rules of the destination before proposing a sales model.
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