A23L FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 2006
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; PREPARATION, TREATMENT OR PRESERVATION THEREOF
- Subclass:
- FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF
Description
A23L covers foods, foodstuffs, and non-alcoholic beverages that do not fall within more specific IPC/CPC classes, along with their preparation and treatment methods. This subclass includes diverse products such as natural foodstuffs (nuts, seeds, spices, coffee, tea), composite food products, dietary supplements, food additives, and beverages like soft drinks and plant-based drinks. It encompasses processing techniques including grinding, mixing, texturizing, fortification, and flavor modification, as well as preservation methods not covered by specialized classes. A23L serves as a residual category for food and beverage inventions not classifiable under dedicated subclasses (A23B–A23K) that address specific product categories such as meat, fish, grain products, or fats and oils.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A23L recorded 450,110 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 37,286 in 2013 to 32,837 in 2023 (-12%), peaking at 49,827 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class A23 are KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH (6,158 applications), NESTLE (4,562 applications) and NESTEC (3,354 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
A23L ranks 1st of 10 subclasses with filings in A23, with 450,110 applications between 2013 and 2023, 46.2% of the class. Annual filings declined 12% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+18%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A23L | Foods, Foodstuffs or Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Not Otherwise Provided for; Preparation or Treatment Thereof | 450,110 | 46.2% |
| 2 | A23K, Feeding-Stuffs Specially Adapted for Animals; Methods Specially Adapted for Production Thereof | Feeding-Stuffs Specially Adapted for Animals; Methods Specially Adapted for Production Thereof | 106,027 | 10.9% |
| 3 | A23N, Machines or Apparatus for Treating Harvested Fruit, Vegetables, or Flower Bulbs in Bulk, Not Otherwise Provided for; Peeling Vegetables or Fruit in Bulk; Apparatus for Preparing Animal Feeding-Stuffs | Machines or Apparatus for Treating Harvested Fruit, Vegetables, or Flower Bulbs in Bulk, Not Otherwise Provided for; Peeling Vegetables or Fruit in Bulk; Apparatus for Preparing Animal Feeding-Stuffs | 99,459 | 10.2% |
| 4 | A23F, Coffee; Tea; Their Substitutes; Manufacture, Preparation, or Infusion Thereof | Coffee; Tea; Their Substitutes; Manufacture, Preparation, or Infusion Thereof | 78,125 | 8.0% |
| 5 | A23B, Preservation of Foods, Foodstuffs or Non-Alcoholic Beverages; Chemical Ripening of Fruit or Vegetables | Preservation of Foods, Foodstuffs or Non-Alcoholic Beverages; Chemical Ripening of Fruit or Vegetables | 56,029 | 5.7% |
| 6 | A23P, Shaping or Working of Foodstuffs, Not Fully Covered by a Single Other Subclass | Shaping or Working of Foodstuffs, Not Fully Covered by a Single Other Subclass | 55,814 | 5.7% |
| 7 | A23G, Cocoa; Cocoa Products, e.g. Chocolate; Substitutes for Cocoa or Cocoa Products; Confectionery; Chewing Gum; Ice-Cream; Preparation Thereof | Cocoa; Cocoa Products, e.g. Chocolate; Substitutes for Cocoa or Cocoa Products; Confectionery; Chewing Gum; Ice-Cream; Preparation Thereof | 46,722 | 4.8% |
| 8 | A23C, Dairy Products, e.g. Milk, Butter or Cheese; Milk or Cheese Substitutes; Preparation Thereof | Dairy Products, e.g. Milk, Butter or Cheese; Milk or Cheese Substitutes; Preparation Thereof | 43,005 | 4.4% |
| 9 | A23J, Protein Compositions for Foodstuffs; Working-Up Proteins for Foodstuffs; Phosphatide Compositions for Foodstuffs | Protein Compositions for Foodstuffs; Working-Up Proteins for Foodstuffs; Phosphatide Compositions for Foodstuffs | 19,978 | 2.1% |
| 10 | A23D, Edible Oils or Fats, e.g. Margarines, Shortenings or Cooking Oils | Edible Oils or Fats, e.g. Margarines, Shortenings or Cooking Oils | 19,209 | 2.0% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
food foodstuffs foods in addition to the commonly accepted meaning of foods or foodstuffs, the term in this subclass also extends to cover less traditional items such as thickening agents (e.g. starch), flavouring agents, artificial sweeteners or food colouring agents.
Limiting references
Preservation of foods, foodstuffs or non-alcoholic beverages
Application references
Edible extracts or preparations for medicinal purposes Preparation of malt for brewing
Related Keywords
17 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A23L 11/00 Pulses, i.e. fruits of leguminous plants, for production of food; Products from legumes; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 13/00 Meat products; Meat meal; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 15/00 Egg products; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 17/00 Food-from-the-sea products; Fish products; Fish meal; Fish-egg substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 19/00 Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 2/00 Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 21/00 Marmalades, jams, jellies or the like; Products from apiculture; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 23/00 Soups; Sauces; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 25/00 Food consisting mainly of nutmeat or seeds; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 27/00 Spices; Flavouring agents or condiments; Artificial sweetening agents; Table salts; Dietetic salt substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 29/00 Foods or foodstuffs containing additives; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 31/00 Edible extracts or preparations of fungi; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 33/00 Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 35/00 Foods or foodstuffs not provided for in groups; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 5/00 Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor
- A23L 7/00 Cereal-derived products; Malt products; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L 9/00 Puddings; Cream substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A23, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH RU 6,158
- NESTLE CH 4,562
- NESTEC CH 3,354
- JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 2,699
- DSM IP ASSETS (DUTCH STATE MINES IP ASSETS) NL 2,320
- SUNTORY HOLDINGS JP 1,926
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,804
- CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 1,653
- CARGILL US 1,588
- REPUBLIC OF KOREA (RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION) KR 1,314