December 1, 2025, marks the official opening of the trademark recordation window for goods imported into Mainland Tanzania. From this date, all trademarks related to imported goods—regardless of their place of registration—must be registered with the Chief Inspector of Merchandise Marks.

To ensure a smooth implementation of this process, Darstate Attorneys participated yesterday in a Breakfast Meeting Policy Dialogue organized by the Tanzania Intellectual Property Association (TIPA) on customs recordation. The meeting brought together officials from the Office of the Chief Inspector of Merchandise Marks, the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA), leading intellectual property practitioners and founding member of the Tanzania Intellectual Property Association.

10 Key points highlighted during the discussion included:

1. Recordation is not registration; it serves as a database of registered trademarks.

2. Recordation applies only to trademarks that have already been registered.

3. Only trademarks relating to finished goods intended for direct consumer sale are eligible for trademark recordation.

4. The appointment of an agent for trademark recordation or related procedures must be authorised through a Power of Attorney.

5. There is now a robust and reliable trademark recordation system in place.

6. The trademark recordation system is integrated with other government authorities’ systems, enabling officers to identify the types of products entering the country within one hour and determine their authenticity.

7. The system will notify agents about any identified counterfeit products or goods.

8. In the trademark recordation process, the country or place of manufacture is essential for determining counterfeiting.

9. Tanzania is the third country in Africa to implement a trademark recordation system.

10. The trademark recordation system will play a significant role in promoting and protecting business within the country.

If you own a brand and operate a business in Tanzania; make sure you take advantage of this new system.

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