February 2023:

Following the second announcement/reminder that the BIC Standard Subject Categories (aka BIC Codes) scheme will become obsolete in February 2024 – replaced by Thema – we have put together the following operational FAQs to help with this transition:

Obsolescence of BIC Codes and Transition to Thema – BIC’s Operational FAQ

February 2022:

In February 2022 BIC announced that the BIC Standard Subject Categories scheme will become obsolete in February 2024.

Read the full press release here.

February 2017:

Please note that with the introduction and growing adoption internationally of Thema (the subject category scheme for a global book trade), in February 2017 BIC permanently froze the development of BIC Codes. More information about Thema can be found here: http://www.editeur.org/151/Thema/ 

Any questions, please contact us.

BIC Subject Category Selection Tool

Use this tool assign BIC Codes subject categories to your titles quickly and easily.


BIC Standard Subject Categories – Version 2.1

November 2010 (please check with intended recipient before implementing)

Version 2.1 – complete list of categories

Subjects only (Excel file)

Qualifiers only (Excel file)

Summary of changes from version 2.0

Procedures for migrating from version 2.0

User guidelines (January 2011)