A01J MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- Subclass:
- MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
Description
A01J encompasses methods, apparatus, and systems for processing milk and producing dairy products including cheese, butter, yogurt, and other fermented or processed milk-based foods. The classification covers milk handling equipment such as separators, pasteurizers, homogenizers, and churns, as well as techniques for curd formation, fermentation, and product finishing. This subclass excludes general food processing machinery (covered under A23) and focuses specifically on dairy-specific manufacturing processes and equipment used from raw milk collection through final product packaging.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A01J recorded 6,004 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 557 in 2013 to 405 in 2023 (-27%), peaking at 667 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class A01 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (6,725 applications), JOHN DEERE (6,555 applications) and MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY (6,280 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
A01J ranks 11th of 12 subclasses with filings in A01, with 6,004 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.3% of the class. Annual filings declined 27% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+78%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A01G, Horticulture; Cultivation of Vegetables, Flowers, Rice, Fruit, Vines, Hops or Seaweed; Forestry; Watering | Horticulture; Cultivation of Vegetables, Flowers, Rice, Fruit, Vines, Hops or Seaweed; Forestry; Watering | 500,856 | 26.6% |
| 2 | A01K, Animal Husbandry; Aviculture; Apiculture; Pisciculture; Fishing; Rearing or Breeding Animals, Not Otherwise Provided for; New Breeds of Animals | Animal Husbandry; Aviculture; Apiculture; Pisciculture; Fishing; Rearing or Breeding Animals, Not Otherwise Provided for; New Breeds of Animals | 349,334 | 18.6% |
| 3 | A01N, Preservation of Bodies of Humans or Animals or Plants or Parts Thereof; Biocides, e.g. as Disinfectants, as Pesticides or as Herbicides; Pest Repellants or Attractants; Plant Growth Regulators | Preservation of Bodies of Humans or Animals or Plants or Parts Thereof; Biocides, e.g. as Disinfectants, as Pesticides or as Herbicides; Pest Repellants or Attractants; Plant Growth Regulators | 218,351 | 11.6% |
| 4 | A01C, Planting; Sowing; Fertilising | Planting; Sowing; Fertilising | 176,270 | 9.4% |
| 5 | A01M, Catching, Trapping or Scaring of Animals; Apparatus for the Destruction of Noxious Animals or Noxious Plants | Catching, Trapping or Scaring of Animals; Apparatus for the Destruction of Noxious Animals or Noxious Plants | 149,359 | 7.9% |
| 6 | A01P, Biocidal, Pest Repellant, Pest Attractant or Plant Growth Regulatory Activity of Chemical Compounds or Preparations | Biocidal, Pest Repellant, Pest Attractant or Plant Growth Regulatory Activity of Chemical Compounds or Preparations | 125,575 | 6.7% |
| 7 | A01D, Harvesting; Mowing | Harvesting; Mowing | 120,447 | 6.4% |
| 8 | A01B, Soil Working in Agriculture or Forestry; Parts, Details, or Accessories of Agricultural Machines or Implements, in General | Soil Working in Agriculture or Forestry; Parts, Details, or Accessories of Agricultural Machines or Implements, in General | 103,827 | 5.5% |
| 9 | A01H, New Plants or Processes for Obtaining Them; Plant Reproduction by Tissue Culture Techniques | New Plants or Processes for Obtaining Them; Plant Reproduction by Tissue Culture Techniques | 86,394 | 4.6% |
| 10 | A01F, Threshing; Baling of Straw, Hay or the Like; Stationary Apparatus or Hand Tools for Forming or Binding Straw, Hay or the Like Into Bundles; Cutting of Straw, Hay or the Like; Storing Agricultural or Horticultural Produce | Threshing; Baling of Straw, Hay or the Like; Stationary Apparatus or Hand Tools for Forming or Binding Straw, Hay or the Like Into Bundles; Cutting of Straw, Hay or the Like; Storing Agricultural or Horticultural Produce | 44,933 | 2.4% |
| 11 | A01J | Manufacture of Dairy Products | 6,004 | 0.3% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
15 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A01J 1/00 Devices or accessories for milking by hand
- A01J 11/00 Apparatus for treating milk
- A01J 13/00 Tanks for treating cream
- A01J 15/00 Manufacturing butter
- A01J 17/00 Kneading machines for butter, or the like
- A01J 19/00 Hand devices for forming slabs of butter, or the like
- A01J 21/00 Machines for forming slabs of butter, or the like
- A01J 23/00 Devices for dividing bulk butter, or the like
- A01J 25/00 Cheese-making
- A01J 27/00 After-treatment of cheese; Coating of cheese
- A01J 3/00 Milking with catheters
- A01J 5/00 Milking machines or devices
- A01J 7/00 Accessories for milking machines or devices
- A01J 9/00 Milk receptacles
- A01J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A01, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 6,725
- JOHN DEERE US 6,555
- MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY US 6,280
- DOW AGROSCIENCES US 5,260
- BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) DE 5,106
- PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL US 4,609
- KUBOTA CORPORATION 4,458
- SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS CH 4,341
- BAYER CROPSCIENCE DE 4,305
- CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA US 4,024