Classification of goods and services
When you file your trademark application, it is necessary to indicate which goods or services your mark aims at protecting. INPI adopts the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services (NCL), which provides a list of 45 classes with information about the various types of goods and services and what belongs to each class.
The classification system is divided between products, listed from classes 1 to 34, and services, listed from classes 35 to 45. It is important to know that the classes and lists are not exhaustive, i. e., they do not include all types of goods and services that exist. In order to complement the original Nice Classification lists, INPI created the Auxiliary Lists.
Every year, the Committee of Experts of the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO makes amendments to the International Classification, aiming at offering the widest range of items possible for the applicants to choose.
Since January 1, 2020, the 2020 version of the 11th edition of the Nice Classification is in effect (NCL (11) 2020). Learn about the bilingual list of goods and services of the NCL (11) 2020 version (English-Portuguese), its headings and explanatory notes.
Consultation with the Goods and Services Classification Commission
In case you don’t find the good or service that you intend to request in your trademark application in the Lists of Goods and Services or in case you have questions about this subject, you may make a consultation with INPI’s Goods and Services Classification Commission (CCPS).
In order to file a consultation with the CCPS, you must generate a Federal Government Payment Form (GRU) (the GRU module can be found on the right side of the home page of INPI’s portal) choosing code 357, regarding the “Consulta à Comissão de Classificação de Produtos e Serviços”, at the unit “Marcas”.
The fee for the petition sent by the e-Trademark system is of R$170.00 for the classification of up to five (5) goods or services. For each additional good or service, R$20.00 must be added to the fee owed for such petition.