9018.31.00.80 - Other

This HTS category, 9018.31.00.80, encompasses syringes that do not fit into the more specific "Hypodermic" classification (9018.31.00.40). While hypodermic syringes are primarily designed for parenteral injection, this "Other" category would include syringes used for a broader range of medical, laboratory, or even industrial applications where sterile delivery or precise dispensing is required, but the needle is either not present, not designed for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, or the syringe itself is not primarily intended for hypodermic use. Examples could include irrigation syringes, feeding syringes with blunt tips, or specialized syringes for administering medication orally or rectally.

The key distinction between this category and its sibling, 9018.31.00.40, lies in the intended use and design of the needle component, or its absence. Hypodermic syringes are characterized by sharp, hollow needles specifically manufactured for piercing the skin to introduce or withdraw substances. Syringes classified under 9018.31.00.80, while still instruments for fluid dispensing, may feature blunt tips, no needles, or needles intended for non-hypodermic purposes, such as flushing wounds or delivering fluids into body cavities through pre-existing openings.

As a leaf node, 9018.31.00.80 does not have further subdivisions within the HTS. Therefore, classification within this category relies on definitively determining that a syringe does not meet the criteria for hypodermic use, while still falling under the broader scope of syringes for medical, surgical, or similar applications as outlined in heading 9018. The determination will hinge on a detailed examination of the syringe's physical characteristics, its accompanying components (particularly the needle, if any), and its intended purpose as conveyed by the manufacturer's specifications or common usage.