Nice Classification 13th Edition (NCL 13-2026): What Changed and What It Means

The Nice Classification is the international system used to group goods and services for trademark registration, and it is followed by the Indian Trade Marks Registry and around 150 offices worldwide. On 1 January 2026, WIPO’s 13th edition, NCL (13-2026), came into force, changing where several goods and services are classified.

What changed

New editions of the Nice Classification are published every three years, with annual versions in between. The 13th edition introduces a large set of amendments, reported at around 543 changes across goods and services, spanning new entries, wording edits, deletions and reclassifications.

Notable reclassifications

• Eyewear, corrective glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses move from Class 9 to Class 10, reflecting their medical and therapeutic character. Smart glasses stay in Class 9 because of their electronic nature.
• Emergency and rescue vehicles move from Class 9 to Class 12.
• Electrically heated clothing and socks move from Class 11 to Class 25 and are treated as apparel.
• Essential oils are now classified by purpose, cosmetic, medicinal or food, across Classes 3, 5, 1 or 30.
• Artificial intelligence as a service (AIaaS) is added to Class 42, and smart products are classified by their principal function rather than defaulting to Class 9.

Are existing trademarks affected?

No. The changes are not retrospective. Trademarks filed or registered before 1 January 2026 are assessed under the 12th edition and do not need to be reclassified or re-registered. The new edition applies to new applications, renewals and Madrid filings from 2026 onwards.

Why it matters for new filings

Getting the class right is essential for valid protection. During the transition, a few practical points stand out:

• Identical goods may sit in different classes depending on when they were filed, so trademark searches should cover both the old and the new classes.
• Specifications drafted under the older edition can attract objections, or leave gaps in protection and enforcement.
• Filing in the wrong class may require corrections and additional fees.

What you should do

Review any planned filings against the new edition, and check that existing specifications still describe your goods and services accurately when you renew or expand. The complete list of changes is published on WIPO’s official Nice Classification portal, and we can help you map your products to the correct current class.