When a business applies for a trademark registration in India, it must specify the category of goods or services the mark covers. Under the internationally recognised Nice Classification (NCL) system, trademarks are divided into 45 classes. Classes 1 to 34 cover goods, and Classes 35 to 45 cover services. Among these classes, trademark Class 29 deals with food products that are processed, preserved, or ready for consumption. This class includes a wide range of edible items such as meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs, jams, jellies, edible oils, and fats.
This blog will help you to understand what Class 29 covers, its exclusions, overlapping classes, examples of goods, and the registration process.
What is Trademark Class 29?
Trademark Class 29 includes every kind of edible product that is not fresh or raw but has undergone some form of processing, such as cooking, freezing, drying, or preservation. Class 29 covers meat, fish, poultry, game, meat extracts, processed fruits and vegetables, jellies, jams, compotes, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt, edible oils, and fats used in cooking. It also includes milk substitutes such as soya milk, almond milk, and other plant-based dairy alternatives.
Goods Covered under Trademark Class 29
1. Meats, Fish, Poultry, Game, Meat Extracts
- Meat (processed, preserved)
- Fish, seafood (not live)
- Poultry preparations
- Game (processed)
- Meat extracts, bouillons, soups from meat
- Sausages, ham, cold cuts
2. Processed Fruits, Vegetables, Fungi (and Preparations thereof)
- Preserved fruits & vegetables (canned, pickled, dried)
- Cooked, stewed, jellied vegetables
- Jams, jellies, compotes, fruit spreads
- Preserved mushrooms
- Fruit/vegetable purées
- Nuts, pulses prepared for human consumption (not as spices)
3. Dairy Products, Eggs, Milk Substitutes
- Milk, powdered milk, condensed milk
- Cheese, butter, cream, yoghurt, curd
- Eggs, egg products (powdered eggs, albumen for culinary use)
- Milk beverages (where milk predominates)
- Milk substitutes (e.g. coconut milk, almond milk, soya milk)
4. Oils, Fats, Edible Fats and Mixtures
- Edible oils, fats, cooking fats
- Margarine, animal fats for food, fatty substances for food
- Oil-based food preparations
5. Others / Special Preparations
- Edible insects (prepared)
- Seeds prepared for human consumption
- Prepared soups, broths, stocks (when meat- or vegetable-based)
Examples of Trademarks in Class 29
Examples of Class 29 include:
- Amul (milk, butter, cheese)
- Mother Dairy (milk, dairy products)
- Any brand dealing in jams, processed meats, and preserved vegetables
What is Not Covered in Trademark Class 29?
| Sr. No. | Goods / Type | Alternative / Correct Class |
| 1. | Certain unprocessed plant products | Class 31 |
| 2. | Oils/fats not for food use | Class 3 for essential oils
Class 4 for industrial oils Class 5 for medical |
| 3. | Baby food | Class 5 |
| 4. | Dietetic foods/substances adapted for medical use | Class 5 |
| 5. | Dietary supplements | Class 5 |
| 6. | Salad dressings | Class 30 |
| 7. | Processed seeds are used as a seasoning | Class 30 |
| 8. | Chocolate-coated nuts | Class 30 |
| 9. | Fertilized eggs for hatching | Class 31 |
| 10. | Foodstuffs for animals (animal feed) | Class 31 |
| 11. | Live animals | Class 31 |
| 12. | Seeds for planting, seedlings, bulbs | Class 31 |
Who Should Register Under Trademark Class 29?
You should register your trademark under Class 29 if your business deals in any of the following:
- Processed/preserved/cooked animal or plant-based foods
- Dairy products, eggs, milk, milk alternatives
- Edible oils and fats, food preparations involving fats
- Fruit or vegetable preserves, jams, jellies
- Prepared soups, broths, and meat extracts
- Nut or pulse preparations (non-seasoning)
- Edible insect products (processed)
FAQs
1. What does Trademark Class 29 include?
Trademark Class 29 covers processed, preserved, and ready-to-eat food items such as meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs, jams, jellies, edible oils, and fats. It also includes plant-based dairy alternatives like soy or almond milk.
2. Who should register under Class 29?
Any business manufacturing or selling processed food products, such as dairy brands, meat producers, jam makers, or edible oil companies, should register their trademarks under Class 29.
3. What products are excluded from Class 29?
Unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and live animals fall under Class 31. Diet foods, baby foods, and supplements belong to Class 5, while salad dressings and chocolate-coated nuts are covered under Class 30.
4. How do you register a trademark under Class 29?
You need to:
- Conduct a trademark search on the IP India portal.
- File Form TM-A with Class 29 details.
- Wait for the examination and respond to objections if raised.
- Get your mark published in the Trademark Journal.
- Receive a registration certificate after approval.
5. How long is a Class 29 trademark valid?
A trademark under Class 29 remains valid for 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed indefinitely every 10 years by paying renewal fees.
6. Can you apply under multiple classes with Class 29?
Yes. If your business also sells raw food (Class 31) or provides restaurant services (Class 43), you can file a multi-class application to secure your brand in all relevant categories.
