2941.30.00.00 - Tetracyclines and their derivatives; salts thereof 🖩

This HTS category, 2941.30.00.00, specifically encompasses tetracyclines and their derivatives, along with any salts thereof. Tetracyclines are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics characterized by a specific four-ring structure. This classification includes both naturally occurring tetracyclines produced by microorganisms and semi-synthetic or synthetic derivatives that retain the core tetracycline chemical structure. Examples of covered products would include tetracycline hydrochloride, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline, in their pure forms or as pharmaceutical preparations where the tetracycline derivative is the primary active ingredient.

This category is distinguished from its siblings by the unique chemical structure of tetracyclines, differentiating them from penicillins (2941.10), streptomycins (2941.20), chloramphenicol (2941.40), and erythromycin (2941.50). While all these are antibiotics, their molecular frameworks and mechanisms of action are distinct. For instance, penicillins feature a beta-lactam ring, whereas tetracyclines possess a fused polycyclic system. This precise structural definition is crucial for accurate classification.

As this HTS code represents a leaf node, there are no further subcategories within 2941.30.00.00. Therefore, classification at this level relies on identifying the substance as a tetracycline derivative. When classifying, consider the chemical identity of the product. If a product is a salt of a tetracycline or a derivative that clearly retains the tetracycline core structure, it falls under this heading. Non-antibiotic compounds, or antibiotics with fundamentally different core structures, would be classified elsewhere in Chapter 29, or potentially in Chapter 30 if they are finished pharmaceutical products.