Introduction
India is a global hub for tea, coffee, spices, flour, and snacks. The country is known for its rich culinary traditions, processed food innovations, and ever-growing packaged FMCG segment. If your business sells tea, coffee, masalas, bread, biscuits, chocolates, sweets, noodles, or rice, you must protect your brand under Trademark Class 30.
Whether you are a local masala brand, an artisan tea label, a homegrown café chain, or a large food exporter, this guide will help you understand how Class 30 protects your trademarks, brand series, packaging, and food labels.
Legal Definition in India
Under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and in line with the Nice Classification (11th Edition), Class 30 is officially described as:
“Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastries and confectionery; edible ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking powder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice.”
This class broadly includes processed and consumable food products that are ready to eat, drink, or cook, primarily vegetarian, non-alcoholic, and grain-based items.
Scope of Trademark Class 30
Class 30 is one of the most commercially important trademark classes in India. It includes products that are:
- Processed or prepared for consumption
- Derived from plant-based or grain-based sources
- Used for taste, flavoring, or direct eating
It is commonly used by:
- Food manufacturing companies
- Spices and masala brands
- Tea and coffee exporters
- Bakery and snack companies
- Chocolates, sweets, and confectionery sellers
- Café, restaurant, and franchise brands
- eCommerce food sellers and resellers
✅ Class 30 Includes the Following:
Beverages & Drink Mixes
- Tea (green, black, herbal, flavored)
- Coffee and instant coffee
- Cocoa and hot chocolate mix
- Coffee substitutes and artificial coffee
- Tea/coffee premixes with milk and sugar
- Ready-to-drink tea/coffee bottles (non-carbonated)
Processed Grains & Staples
- Rice (basmati, broken, parboiled, steamed)
- Atta, maida, semolina (suji), corn flour
- Bread, buns, pav, and rolls
- Noodles, pasta, vermicelli
- Tapioca, sago (sabudana)
- Instant upma, poha, khichdi mixes
Spices, Seasonings & Condiments
- All powdered and whole masalas
- Blended spices (garam masala, chhole masala)
- Seasoning packets
- Salt, mustard powder
- Vinegar, sauces (soya, tomato, chili)
- Ready chutneys and condiments
- Baking powder, yeast, cooking additives
Baked Goods & Snacks
- Cakes, pastries, muffins
- Biscuits, cookies, rusks
- Wafers, chips (wheat/corn-based)
- Sweets (soan papdi, pedas, ladoos – processed)
- Ice-cream cones, frozen desserts (non-dairy)
- Chocolates, toffees, candies
- Dry namkeen made from wheat, rice, or besan
Sweeteners & Preservatives
- Sugar, brown sugar
- Honey, jaggery (processed/packaged)
- Treacle, glucose syrup
- Artificial sweeteners (food grade)
Examples of Products Under Class 30
- Tata Tea Gold and Tetley Green Tea
- Nescafé and Bru instant coffee
- Everest Garam Masala and MDH Chana Masala
- ITC Aashirvaad Atta and Suji
- Nestlé Maggi noodles
- Haldiram’s Soan Papdi and Kaju Katli
- Parle-G biscuits, Monaco, Hide & Seek cookies
- Amul chocolates and ice cream cones
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup
- Pillsbury Cake Mixes
- Dabur Honey (processed and packaged)
- Patanjali Vinegar and sauces
- MTR Instant Upma Mix
- Priya Pickle Masala
- Urban Platter Vegan Baking Powder
What Is NOT Included in Class 30
| Product | Correct Class |
|---|---|
| Fresh/unprocessed grains or cereals | Class 31 |
| Non-alcoholic drinks like fruit juices | Class 32 |
| Alcoholic beverages | Class 33 |
| Nutritional food supplements/protein bars | Class 5 |
| Dairy-based desserts (ice cream, curd) | Class 29 |
| Cooking oils and ghee | Class 29 |
| Raw fruits and vegetables | Class 31 |
| Food delivery or catering services | Class 43 |
| Restaurant chains (service brands) | Class 43 |
Why Trademark Class 30 Is So Important
- Safeguard against counterfeit or lookalike brands
- Enable listing on Amazon, Flipkart, BigBasket, etc.
- Ensure consumer trust in brand origin and consistency
- Support licensing/franchise deals for spice or café chains
- Enable FSSAI + Trademark combo registration for food businesses
- Build brand valuation for fundraising or acquisitions
Real Trademark Examples (India – Class 30)
| Brand | Products (Filed under Class 30) |
|---|---|
| TATA TEA | Tea variants, masala chai mixes |
| BRU/NESCAFÉ | Instant coffee, coffee powder |
| MDH/EVEREST | Blended spices, chaat masala |
| MAGGI | Noodles, pasta, soup mixes |
| HALDIRAM’S | Namkeens, sweets, bakery goods |
| BRITANNIA | Bread, biscuits, cake rusk |
| ITC AASHIRVAAD | Flour, salt, instant mixes |
| LIPTON | Herbal tea bags, detox teas |
| CADBURY | Chocolates, candies, toffees |
| URBAN PLATTER | Vegan sauces, baking powder |
Trademark Filing Process (India) – Class 30
- Trademark Search: Use IP India Public Search for Class 30 availability.
- Prepare TM-A Application: Accurately describe your product list.
- File via IP India Portal or Attorney
- Registrar Examination: Checks for conflicts or descriptiveness.
- Publication in Journal: Open to opposition for 4 months.
- Registration Certificate Issued: If unopposed, valid for 10 years (renewable).
Required Documents
- PAN/Aadhaar of applicant
- Logo or label image (if applying for device mark)
- Product catalog or photo (optional)
- MSME/Udyam Certificate (for discounted fee)
- TM-48 (if filed through agent)
International Protection – Madrid Protocol (Class 30)
Exporting tea, masalas, biscuits, coffee? Protect your brand globally with one application:
| Country | Trademark Class |
|---|---|
| India | Class 30 |
| USA | Class 030 |
| EU | Class 30 |
| UK | Class 30 |
| WIPO (Madrid) | Class 30 |
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing tea/coffee under Class 32 – should be Class 30
- Milk-based sweets in Class 30 – use Class 29 too
- Using vague terms like “food items”
- Including dairy or meat-based items (not allowed)
- Omitting sub-brands or flavor ranges
Top Tips for Class 30 Trademark Applicants
- List all products (e.g., “spices, atta, sauces, sweeteners”)
- Use specific names like “instant tea mix”, “pasta”, “wheat rusk”
- File label or logo as separate mark if distinctive
- Use Madrid Protocol for exports
- Apply for variants, packs, and flavors separately if required
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q1: Are tea and coffee Class 30? ✅ Yes.
- Q2: Is honey included? ✅ Yes (if processed).
- Q3: Are pickles part of Class 30? ❌ No (Class 29).
- Q4: Are bakery products like muffins included? ✅ Yes.
- Q5: Milk-based sweets? ⚠️ File under both Class 29 and 30.
- Q6: Are masalas and spice powders included? ✅ Yes.
- Q7: Instant cooking mixes? ✅ Yes.
- Q8: Café chains? ✅ Yes for packaged items; ❌ No for dine-in (Class 43).
- Q9: Sauces and vinegar? ✅ Yes.
- Q10: One trademark for sweets, bakery, spices? ✅ Yes, if all in Class 30.
Conclusion
Trademark Class 30 protects brands in one of India’s largest and most competitive sectors: tea, coffee, masalas, biscuits, snacks, sauces, bakery, processed staples, and sweets. If your business sells packaged, shelf-stable, plant-based consumables, this class is your legal foundation.
At RegistrationMART, we:
- File Class 30 trademarks for food businesses, startups, and exporters
- Help build multi-brand or franchise trademark strategies
- Support global filings via Madrid Protocol
- Respond to objections and handle oppositions
- Integrate trademark registration with FSSAI, barcoding, and packaging compliance
🔐 Get Expert Help Today
📞 Call Us: +91-7201000259
🌐 Visit: www.registrationmart.in
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