9013.20.00.00 - Lasers, other than laser diodes

This HTS category, 9013.20.00.00, specifically encompasses lasers, with the crucial exclusion of laser diodes themselves. This means that devices employing laser technology, where the laser generation mechanism is an integral but distinct component, fall under this heading. Examples include laser pointers, laser scanning devices, laser engraving machines, and certain industrial lasers used for cutting or welding, provided they are not solely defined by their laser diode component. The core characteristic is the generation and manipulation of a coherent beam of light for a specific function.

To distinguish this category from its siblings, it is important to note what it *does not* cover. Unlike 9013.10, these are not telescopic sights, periscopes, or telescopes designed as parts of other machinery. Furthermore, 9013.80 covers a broader range of "other devices, appliances and instruments" that are optical in nature but do not specifically function as lasers. Finally, 9013.90 is reserved for parts and accessories of the items covered within the broader 9013 heading, not the complete laser apparatus itself.

As 9013.20.00.00 is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, classification within this heading will rely on the explicit definition of "lasers, other than laser diodes" and the specific purpose and construction of the apparatus. When classifying goods under this heading, customs officials will carefully consider whether the item's primary function is the generation and application of a laser beam and whether the laser diode is a component rather than the entirety of the apparatus.