Alkaloids; ephedrine and its salts

HS v2017 Code: 293941

About alkaloids; ephedrine and its salts

HS code 293941 covers the alkaloid compound ephedrine and its salts. Ephedrine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in certain plants, primarily the ephedra plant. It has a wide range of applications, from use as a decongestant in over-the-counter medications to its role as a precursor chemical in the production of methamphetamine. The ephedrine industry plays a significant part in the global pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, with its products being essential inputs for a variety of downstream industries.

Production process

Ephedrine is typically extracted from the ephedra plant through a series of chemical processes. The raw plant material is first dried and then undergoes extraction, often using solvents, to isolate the ephedrine alkaloid. Further purification steps, such as crystallization or chromatography, are then employed to obtain the desired level of purity. Synthetic production of ephedrine is also possible through chemical synthesis from other precursor compounds.

Production inputs

The primary input for the ephedrine industry is the ephedra plant, which serves as the natural source of the alkaloid. In addition, the industry requires various chemical reagents, solvents, and processing equipment to facilitate the extraction and purification of ephedrine. Specialized laboratory equipment and analytical tools are also necessary to ensure the quality and purity of the final product.

Production outputs

The main output of the ephedrine industry is, of course, the ephedrine compound and its salts. These products find use in the pharmaceutical industry as active ingredients in decongestants, bronchodilators, and other medications 300410 Medicaments; containing ephedrine or its salts. Ephedrine is also a key precursor chemical used in the illicit production of methamphetamine, which falls under 293339 (Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom(s) only; other). The ephedrine industry's outputs are essential inputs for a wide range of downstream industries.

Revisions to 293941

Classification codes are adjusted frequently. The code may have been revised or replaced between system versions. The table below shows the history (newest to oldest) of the code 293941. The most recent 1 version of this code (293941) is in the HS v2022 system:

This page shows a legacy version of code 293941 ( HS v2017).

Older versions

Family tree for alkaloids; ephedrine and its salts

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/29'>29: Organic chemicals</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/2939'>2939: Alkaloids; natural or reproduced by synthesis, and their salts, ethers, esters and other derivatives</a>"]
B --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293941'>293941: Alkaloids; ephedrine and its salts</a>"]

    B --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293911'>293911: Alkaloids; of opium and their derivatives; salts thereof</a>"]
B --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293919'>293919: Alkaloids; of opium and their derivatives; other than in 2939.11, salts thereof</a>"]
B --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293920'>293920: Alkaloids; of cinchona and their derivatives; salts thereof</a>"]
B --> G["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293930'>293930: Alkaloids; caffeine and its salts</a>"]
B --> H["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293942'>293942: Alkaloids; pseudoephedrine (INN) and its salts</a>"]
B --> I["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293943'>293943: Alkaloids; cathine (INN) and its salts</a>"]
B --> J["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293944'>293944: Alkaloids; norephedrine and its salts</a>"]
B --> K["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293949'>293949: Alkaloids; other than ephedrine, pseudoephedrine (INN), norephedrine, and cathine (INN) and their salts</a>"]
B --> L["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293951'>293951: Alkaloids; theophylline and aminophylline (theophylline-ethylenediamine) and their derivatives; salts thereof, fenetylline (INN) and its salts</a>"]
B --> M["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293959'>293959: Alkaloids; theophylline and aminophylline (theophylline-ethylenediamine) and their derivatives; salts thereof, other than fenetylline</a>"]
B --> N["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293961'>293961: Alkaloids; of rye ergot and their derivatives, ergometrine (INN) and its salts</a>"]
B --> O["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293962'>293962: Alkaloids; of rye ergot and their derivatives, ergotamine (INN) and its salts</a>"]
B --> P["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293963'>293963: Alkaloids; of rye ergot and their derivatives, lysergic acid and its salts</a>"]
B --> Q["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293969'>293969: Alkaloids; of rye ergot and their derivatives, salts thereof, n.e.c. in item no. 2939.6</a>"]
B --> R["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293971'>293971: Alkaloids; of vegetal origin, cocaine, ecgonine, levometamfetamine, metamfetamine (INN), metamfetamine racemate; salts, esters and other derivatives thereof</a>"]
B --> S["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293979'>293979: Alkaloids; of vegetal origin, other than cocaine, ecgonine, levometamfetamine, metamfetamine (INN), metamfetamine racemate; salts, esters and other derivatives; n.e.c. in heading no. 2939</a>"]
B --> T["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/293980'>293980: Alkaloids; natural or reproduced by synthesis, and their salts, esters and other derivatives n.e.c. in heading no. 2939</a>"]

    

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    classDef level2 color:#000,fill:#e0a458,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level3 color:#000,fill:#419d78,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level4 color:#000,fill:#c04abc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level5 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level6 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef highlight color:#000,fill:#fff,stroke:#000,stroke-width:5px



  %% Apply classes
  class A level2
class B level4
class C level6
class D level6
class E level6
class F level6
class G level6
class H level6
class I level6
class J level6
class K level6
class L level6
class M level6
class N level6
class O level6
class P level6
class Q level6
class R level6
class S level6
class T level6

  class C highlight

  %% class A level1
  %% class B,C level2
  %% class D,E,F,G,H,I level2
  %% class J,K,L,M,N,O,P level3
  %% class C highlight