🧪 Nice Class 1: Chemicals & Industrial Chemistry
The EUIPO register holds 123,240 trademarks in Class 1, the class for industrial chemicals, adhesives and fertilizers (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
123,240
Marks in the EU register
69,815
Registered with the EUIPO
+14 %
Growth 2020–2024
66 %
Word mark share
Class 1 opens the Nice Classification and is one of its most industrial categories: it covers chemicals used in industry, science and agriculture, including industrial chemicals, adhesives and fertilizers. The EUIPO register holds 123,240 trademarks in Class 1, of which 69,815 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). The class is growing at a healthy pace: new registrations climbed from 5,609 in 2020 to 6,374 in 2024, up 14 percent, with another 5,647 added in 2025. The list of top filers reads like a roll call of the chemical industry: BASF leads with 770 trademarks, followed by Syngenta (501), Henkel (412), Merck (384) and Evonik (321). One number stands out: 66 percent of the trademarks in Class 1 are word marks. In B2B, the name does the work, not the logo, because product names live in catalogues, data sheets and tenders. That is exactly why a thorough name search pays off in this class.
What belongs in Class 1?
Class 1 covers chemicals for use in industry, science, photography, agriculture and forestry. Typical examples: industrial chemicals and chemical intermediates, adhesives for industrial use, fertilizers and soil improvers, unprocessed plastics and artificial resins, and fire extinguishing compositions. The key idea is raw material status: Class 1 is for substances that are processed further or used in production. Finished products belong elsewhere: cleaning preparations and cosmetics in Class 3, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products such as herbicides in Class 5, paints and varnishes in Class 2.
Typical examples: Industrial, photographic and agricultural chemicals
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 1
Most active applicants in Class 1
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basf Se | 770 |
| 2 | Syngenta Crop Protection Ag | 501 |
| 3 | Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa | 412 |
| 4 | Merck Kgaa | 384 |
| 5 | Evonik Operations Gmbh | 321 |
| 6 | Symrise Ag | 275 |
| 7 | Novozymes A/S | 265 |
| 8 | Illinois Tool Works Inc | 256 |
| 9 | Roche Diagnostics Gmbh | 243 |
| 10 | Dsm Ip Assets Bv | 213 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Plan Class 1 as part of a bundle from the start: in practice it is most often combined with Class 5 (plant protection and pharmaceutical products), Class 42 (research, development and laboratory services) and Class 3 (cleaning and care products). Settle the raw material versus finished product question before filing, because it decides the right class, and the list of goods can only be narrowed later, never extended. Favour a word mark too: 66 percent of trademarks in Class 1 are word marks, and in B2B your brand is mostly written and spoken, rarely seen as a logo. And search the EUIPO register carefully before you file.
Common mistakes with Class 1
The most common mistake in Class 1 is mixing up raw materials and finished products. If you sell a ready-made cleaning product to consumers, you need Class 3, not Class 1, and plant protection products such as herbicides or fungicides sit in Class 5, even though fertilizers belong in Class 1. That line runs straight through many product ranges. Second mistake: forgetting services. Many chemistry and materials startups develop, test and consult, which are Class 42 services that are often missing from the filing. Third, founders underestimate how crowded the class is: BASF (770 trademarks), Syngenta (501) and Henkel (412) are highly active filers whose portfolios are worth checking before you apply.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 1?
Class 1 covers chemicals for industry, science and agriculture: industrial chemicals, adhesives for industrial use, fertilizers, and unprocessed plastics and artificial resins. Raw material status is the deciding factor. Finished products such as cleaning preparations (Class 3), paints (Class 2) or plant protection products (Class 5) belong in other classes.
Who files the most trademarks in Class 1?
According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), BASF leads with 770 trademarks, followed by Syngenta (501), Henkel (412), Merck (384) and Evonik (321). The class is firmly in the hands of the major chemical groups, which makes a careful search before your own filing all the more important.
I sell finished cleaning or care products, do I need Class 1?
No. Class 1 covers raw materials and chemical intermediates, while finished cleaning products, soaps and cosmetics belong in Class 3. Class 1 only becomes relevant for you if you also supply base substances or ingredients to other manufacturers. In practice, many companies file both classes together for that reason.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 1?
Most often Class 5 for plant protection and health products, Class 42 for research, development and laboratory services, and Class 3 for cleaning and care products. A startup developing an organic fertilizer and offering lab analysis as a service covers the typical gaps with Classes 1 and 42.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
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