Trademark Class 31 in Nepal covers fresh agricultural goods, seeds, plants, live animals and animal feed. You file it with the Department of Industry under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965, and protection is limited to the class you apply in. Processed or preserved products usually fall into another class.
Key takeaways
Class 31 is the goods class for raw farm produce, seeds, live animals and animal feed. In Nepal, you file it with the Department of Industry, and the mark is examined, published, open to 90-day opposition, then registered for a renewable 7-year term.
- Class 31 is the agriculture class under the NICE Classification, which has 45 classes.
- It covers fresh, unprocessed goods: fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, plants, flowers, live animals and feed.
- Processed, preserved or cooked versions often move to Class 29 or Class 30.
- Nepal is first-to-file, so the first valid application usually matters more than first use.
- One Nepal application covers one class, so mixed agri brands may need more than one filing.
- Foreign applicants do not file through Madrid or PCT; they file through a Nepal-based representative.
What does trademark class 31 cover in Nepal?
Trademark Class 31 is the goods class for things that are still close to their natural state. It covers fresh produce, grains, seeds, plants, flowers, live animals and feed. The WIPO Nice Classification is the global reference, and Nepal uses that system for trademark filing.
Think of the rule this way: if the goods are still raw, fresh or unprocessed, Class 31 is often the right home. A sack of seed maize, a nursery sapling, a crate of fresh oranges or a packet of poultry feed can all sit here. Once the product is cooked, canned, milled or preserved, the class usually changes.
Which goods belong in Class 31 and which don't?
The cleanest test is processing. Class 31 protects agricultural goods before heavy processing, while neighbouring classes cover preserved food, cereal-based foods and medical or technical products. A brand owner in Nepal should compare the product form, not just the product name, before filing a trademark application.
| Goods you are selling | Why Class 31 may fit | Common neighbouring class |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs | They are fresh, unprocessed farm goods. | Class 29 or 30 if preserved, dried or cooked |
| Seeds for planting and raw grains | They are planting material or raw agricultural produce. | Class 30 if turned into flour, snacks or cereal foods |
| Live poultry, fish or livestock | Live animals are specifically included. | Class 31 stays right unless the goods are processed foods |
| Animal feed, fodder and dana | Foodstuffs for animals sit squarely in Class 31. | Class 5 if the feed is medicated or supplementary |
| Seedlings, nursery plants and flowers | Plants and natural flowers are classic Class 31 goods. | Class 44 if the service is landscaping or gardening |
Are washed or waxed fruits still in Class 31?
Yes. WIPO's explanatory note expressly includes fresh fruits and vegetables even after washing or waxing. Those limited treatments do not turn fresh produce into preserved or prepared food.
Drying, cooking, freezing, canning or other preparation can change the classification. Compare the actual product sold, not only the crop from which it came.
Does Class 31 cover farming and nursery services?
No. Class 31 covers the specified goods. Agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry and plant-nursery services generally require Class 44 analysis, while retail services commonly point to Class 35.
A nursery may need Class 31 for branded seedlings and a different class for separately branded services. The goods-versus-services guide explains that distinction.
How should a Class 31 goods list be written?
Name the genuine goods with useful precision, such as fresh apples, seeds for planting, natural flowers, live poultry or animal feed. Avoid filing only “agricultural products,” which hides important processing and purpose distinctions.
Check the current WIPO Class 31 publication, then use the trademark search service to review conflicts before packaging or distribution.
Why does Class 31 matter for agriculture brands in Nepal?
Class 31 matters because Nepal is first-to-file. If you sell seed bags, nursery plants, fresh produce or animal feed under a brand, the earliest valid filing helps secure your registered mark. That matters for farmers, distributors, exporters and anyone building repeat trust around quality.
A strong agriculture trademark also helps with shelf recognition. A brand on sacks, crates, cartons and labels tells buyers that the goods come from one source. In practice, that source-identifying value is why Class 31 filing is worth doing before the market becomes crowded.
Who should file a Class 31 trademark in Nepal?
Class 31 is a fit for seed companies, nurseries, farm co-operatives, fresh-produce sellers, flower growers, livestock suppliers, aquaculture businesses and animal-feed brands. If your customers choose you because they trust the name on the bag or crate, you should be thinking about registration, not just usage.
Foreign owners can file directly in Nepal through the national route. Confirm the current local-representation and power of attorney requirements with the Department of Industry before preparing the applicant documents.
How do you register a Class 31 trademark in Nepal?
The filing path is straightforward: check the mark, choose Class 31 only if it truly fits, file with the Department of Industry, wait for examination, then watch for publication and opposition. Nepal follows a set sequence, and a clean filing is much faster than a rushed one.
- Search the existing Nepal register to see whether a similar agriculture mark already exists. Use the public trademark database search and, if needed, our conflict checker.
- Confirm that your goods are really Class 31. If the product is preserved, processed or medicated, another class may be more accurate.
- Prepare the mark and the goods list. If you are filing a wordmark, logo or combined brand, keep the wording clear and specific.
- File the application with the Department of Industry. The DoI examines the mark and may publish a qualifying application in the Industrial Property Bulletin. The Department's 8 July 2025 Bulletin allowed an opposition period of 90 days; check the notice governing the application.
- If no one opposes, the DoI proceeds to registration and issues the registration certificate. That certificate is the paper trail behind the ® symbol.
What documents do you need for a Class 31 filing?
Prepare the exact applicant identity, a clear mark representation, a precise Class 31 goods list and current authority documents for that applicant type. If an agent acts, confirm the current power of attorney requirements.
Individuals, domestic companies and foreign owners may not use identical checklists. Verify current signing, notarisation, corporate and priority-document practice with the Department of Industry rather than copying another applicant's file.
How long does Class 31 registration take in Nepal?
No current official service standard guarantees one filing-to-certificate duration. Documents, examination issues, Bulletin scheduling, the opposition period and applicant responses can change the calendar.
What affects the cost of a Class 31 filing?
The total cost depends on the number of classes, the depth of clearance work, and whether the filing needs extra responses. In Nepal, a trademark is charged per class, so a mixed agri business may need more than one filing. Government charges and professional service fees are separate.
A simple fresh-produce brand with a clean search result is cheaper to prepare than a complicated mark with similar earlier filings. If you need a current figure, use the fee calculator or talk to our team through contact. We can help you scope the filing before you spend on the wrong class.
What is the legal basis for Class 31 in Nepal?
Nepal’s trademark system sits under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965, and the Department of Industry is the registrar. The Nice Classification, used worldwide by WIPO, divides goods and services into 45 classes. In Nepal, that means one application per class, not one filing for every product line.
That legal structure matters for agriculture brands because it forces precision. If your business sells seed, feed and preserved fruit, you may need separate protection for each line. For a broader explanation, read how to choose the right trademark class in Nepal.
Can one Class 31 filing cover seeds and animal feed?
It can list more than one genuine Class 31 product when the same applicant uses the mark for them, provided the wording is clear. Products falling outside Class 31 still require separate applications, and the search should consider conflicts across the full proposed range.
Common mistakes people make with Class 31
The most common mistake is filing a processed product as if it were still fresh. The second is assuming one agri brand can sit safely in one class when the business actually sells seeds, fertilizer, feed and packaged food. The third is skipping a conflict search and hoping the DoI will sort it out.
- Filing canned, dried or cooked goods in Class 31 instead of Class 29 or 30.
- Putting medicated feed into Class 31 when Class 5 is more likely.
- Ignoring a similar earlier mark because the product looks “different enough”.
- Using only a wordmark when the logo or label is the real market signal.
- Forgetting that Nepal uses first-to-file, so delay can cost the better right.
Before filing, check the public register and compare the mark against earlier agriculture brands. The safest starting point is the trademark database search, then the NICE class finder if your products sit near the border between classes.
What does a Nepal Class 31 example look like?
Imagine a Chitwan brand called Terai Gold that sells seed maize, fresh vegetables, nursery saplings and poultry feed. This is an illustration, not a real case. Its seed maize, vegetables and saplings fit Class 31. If it later sells canned corn or bakery items, those goods need other classes. If it sells medicated feed, that also shifts away from Class 31.
This is why brand owners should think in product lines, not just in one logo. A mark on a seed bag may need different protection from the same mark on a preserved-food tin. If your agriculture brand is expanding, our trademark registration service can map the classes before filing.
What should you do next if your product is near the Class 31 border?
If your goods are borderline, choose the class after checking the exact form of the product. Fresh maize is not the same as corn flour. Live fish are not the same as fish paste. Feed is not the same as a medicated veterinary supplement. One small label choice can change the filing strategy.
That is where a short review helps. Use the right class tool, compare the wording against your label, and check earlier marks before you file. If you want us to review the class choice with you, send the details to our contact page.
In short
Trademark Class 31 in Nepal is for fresh agricultural goods, planting material, live animals and animal feed. If the product is processed, preserved or medicated, another class may fit better. Because Nepal is first-to-file, a clean early filing with the Department of Industry is the safest move.
- Class 31 is about raw and fresh goods, not finished food products.
- One Nepal application covers one class, so mixed agri brands may need more than one filing.
- Search first, classify carefully, and then file with the DoI.
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For a Class 31 goods and filing review, contact IP Sewa.
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