What this class covers
ANZSIC class 2412 classifies Australian businesses primarily engaged in manufacturing medical, surgical and dental equipment. This includes both disposable items and durable medical devices used in healthcare settings. The classification encompasses everything from basic first aid equipment to sophisticated diagnostic imaging systems.
Typical businesses in this class include manufacturers of artificial limbs and joints, dental chairs with mechanical components, hypodermic needles and syringes, medical diagnostic apparatus such as MRI and ultrasound machines, and electromedical equipment like pacemakers and respirators. The class also covers dental consumables including amalgams, plasters, cements, and complete dentures.
This classification is used across Australian government and industry for statistical reporting, business registration, and industry analysis. Businesses in this sector must often comply with Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulations in addition to standard manufacturing requirements.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class typically engage in one or more of the following manufacturing activities:
- Producing artificial body parts including eyes, joints, and limbs
- Manufacturing dental equipment such as chairs with mechanical devices, instruments, and consumable materials
- Making complete dentures and orthotic devices like arch supports
- Producing medical diagnostic equipment including MRI, ultrasound, and other imaging systems
- Manufacturing electromedical devices such as pacemakers, hearing aids, and respirators
- Producing disposable medical items including hypodermic needles, syringes, and thermometers
- Making first aid equipment and veterinary instruments
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class specifically excludes manufacturing of ophthalmic equipment, which falls under ANZSIC class 2411 (Photographic, Optical and Ophthalmic Equipment Manufacturing). This distinction separates equipment like eyeglasses, contact lenses, and ophthalmoscopes from other medical devices.
Businesses that repair medical equipment rather than manufacture it would typically be classified elsewhere, as would those primarily engaged in pharmaceutical manufacturing or medical software development. The classification focuses specifically on physical equipment manufacturing rather than related services or digital health technologies.
Practical guidance
When registering your ABN, accurately describing your primary manufacturing activities helps ensure correct ANZSIC classification. The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses this data for national economic reporting, while other agencies may use it for policy development and industry support programs.
Your Business Industry Code (BIC) for tax purposes will typically align with your ANZSIC classification. For workers' compensation insurance, medical equipment manufacturing generally falls under manufacturing risk categories rather than healthcare classifications. Some state and federal grant programs specifically target advanced manufacturing, including medical technology, which may require accurate ANZSIC coding for eligibility assessment.
Businesses in this sector should also be aware of Therapeutic Goods Administration requirements for medical devices, which operate separately from but alongside industry classification systems. Proper classification helps ensure compliance with both statistical reporting and regulatory obligations.