Skip to content
Search Classifications
Search for IPC and CPC classification codes or keywords
DIFF Subgroup
A23L 5/40

Colouring or decolouring of foods

Introduced: January 2016

Full Title

Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor > Colouring or decolouring of foods

IPC and CPC are identically structured here. All 3 subcodes exist in both systems.

1 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

IPC defines codes here since 2016.

Child Classifications

Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open

  • A23L 5/41 Retaining or modifying natural colour by use of additives, e.g. optical brighteners (A23L5/42 takes precedence) since 2016 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • A23L 5/49 Removing colour by chemical reaction, e.g. bleaching since 2016 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC

Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Class A23,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH RU 6,158
  2. NESTLE CH 4,562
  3. NESTEC CH 3,354
  4. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 2,699
  5. DSM IP ASSETS (DUTCH STATE MINES IP ASSETS) NL 2,320
  6. SUNTORY HOLDINGS JP 1,926
  7. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,804
  8. CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 1,653
  9. CARGILL US 1,588
  10. REPUBLIC OF KOREA (RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION) KR 1,314

Top Applicants (CPC)

Class A23,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. NESTLE CH 5,075
  2. NESTEC CH 3,916
  3. DSM IP ASSETS (DUTCH STATE MINES IP ASSETS) NL 2,558
  4. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 2,196
  5. SUNTORY HOLDINGS JP 2,133
  6. CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 1,842
  7. CARGILL US 1,708
  8. REPUBLIC OF KOREA (RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION) KR 1,341
  9. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,279
  10. MARS US 1,161