IPOS Trade Mark Circular: Nice Classification 13th Edition Enters Force

IPOS Trade Mark Circulars & Practice Directions

Published August 25th, 2025

Detected March 22nd, 2026

Summary

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has issued Circular 4/2025 announcing that the 13th Edition, Version 2026 of the Nice Classification will enter into force on January 1, 2026. This update includes significant changes to the classification of goods and services, requiring applicants to use the new classification for applications filed on or after this date.

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What changed

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has announced that the 13th Edition, Version 2026 of the Nice Classification (NCL (13-2026)) will become effective on January 1, 2026. This update introduces changes to the classification of goods and services, including potential transfers between classes, additions, deletions, and modifications to descriptions and class headings. The current 12th Edition, Version 2025 (NCL (12-2025)) will apply to applications filed up to December 31, 2025.

Trade mark applicants filing on or after January 1, 2026, must use NCL (13-2026). IPOS reminds applicants to adopt updated class headings if claiming terms within them. The IPOS online classification search database will be updated accordingly. A virtual workshop will be held in January 2026 to discuss the changes in classification practices. There will be no reclassification of goods and services for applications filed before the effective date.

What to do next

Update trade mark application processes to incorporate the 13th Edition, Version 2026 of the Nice Classification for filings on or after January 1, 2026.
Review and adopt updated Class Headings if claiming terms within them in new applications.
Monitor for details regarding the virtual workshop on classification changes in January 2026.

Source document (simplified)

Intellectual Property Office of Singapore Registry of Trade Marks Circular No. 4/2025: International Classification of Goods and Services – Nice Classification – 13th Edition, Version 2026

International Classification of Goods and Services Nice Classification – 13th Edition, Version 2026

(Circular No. 4/2025, dated 25 August 2025)

Entry into force of the Nice Classification, 13th Edition, Version 2026
The 13th Edition, Version 2026 of the Nice Classification ("NCL (13-2026)") will enter into force on 1 January 2026. An advance electronic publication of NCL (13-2026) is now available on WIPO’s Nice Classification Electronic Publication (NCLPUB ). Changes made to the current 12th Edition, Version 2025 of the Nice Classification (hereinafter abbreviated as "NCL (12-2025)") can be viewed using the “Modifications” function in NCLPUB. Please note that NCL (13-2026) is a change in edition which includes the transfer of goods and/or services from one class to another, on top of the addition, deletion, modification of descriptions of goods and services and wordings in the Class Headings and the Explanatory Notes.
Application of the NCL (13-2026)
The current NCL (12-2025) shall continue to apply to all trade mark applications filed from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Thereafter, applications filed on or after 1 January 2026 will be classified in accordance with NCL (13-2026). In light of the various changes made to the Class Headings, the Registry would like to remind applicants to adopt the updated Class Headings or parts of the updated Class Headings if they wish to claim such terms in their application. To avoid doubt, there will be no reclassification of goods and services for applications filed before 1 January 2026.
Online classification tools
Upon the entry into force of NCL (13-2026), IPOS’ online classification search database that is available in both the electronic Form TM4 and the “Trade Mark Goods and Services Search” page on the IPOS Digital Hub will be duly updated.
Virtual workshop
IPOS will be conducting a virtual workshop in January 2026 on the changes in our classification practices resulting from the 13th Edition. Details of the workshop will be shared closer to the date. ***

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