Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 6 2026

On 2 October 2026, the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 6 2026 was issued to amend various laws including the Anti Money Laundering Act, Companies Act, Patents Registration Act, Trade and Service Marks Act etc.  Please see below some of the key areas of interests for your information:

Anti Money Laundering Act Cap 423 RE 2023

1. Addition of new definitions i.e. foreign politically exposed person, domestic politically exposed person, higher risk business relationship, important political party official and suspicious transactions.
2. Addition of section 18A – circumstances for reporting suspicious transaction. An advocate, notary, commissioner for oaths or accountant shall report suspicious transaction of his client, when engaging in any of the following activities:
   1. buying and selling of a real estate or commercial enterprise.
   2. managing of client money, securities or other assets.
   3. management of bank accounts, savings or securities accounts.
   4. organisation of contributions for the creation, operation or management of a company.
   5. creation, operation or management of a legal entity or arrangement.
   6. buying or selling of business entity.
3. Imposed obligations on a dealer in precious metals or stones and a trust and company service provider to report suspicious transaction. 

Companies Act Cap 212 RE 2023

1. Addition of new definitions i.e. nominee, nominator, nominee director and nominee shareholders.
2. New section 15(2)(c) – obligation to submit to the Registrar of Companies (Registrar) statement of accurate and up to date records of a nominee director or nominee shareholder.
3. New section 118(2) – obligations to keep the register of nominee shareholders in a manner prescribed.
4. Amendment section 133(5)(b) – annual return to state the number of paid up and unpaid up shares of each class held by each member of the company at the date to which the return is made up.
5. New Section 213(3A) – obligations to keep the register of nominee directors in a manner prescribed.
6. New Section 220A – power of the Registrar to carry out inspection at the registered address of the company or any other place where the company’s records are maintained, with or without notice. 
7. Addition of section 438(1)(h) and (i) – foreign companies required to provide a list of shareholders containing the address, number and class of shares of each shareholder after establishing place of business in Tanzania. 6 months transition period provided for existing foreign companies to comply.
8. New Section 456A – Registrar to establish and maintain register of nominee directors and nominee shareholders.  

Patents Registration Act Cap 217 RE 2023

1. New definition of “ARIPO office” means the Secretariat of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization established by Lusaka Agreement of 1976.
2. Replacement of section 39 – term of patent extended to 20 years from the date of filing an application for patent (previously initial period was 10 years).
3. Replacement of section 76 – recognition of designs registered under Regional or International instruments. A design registered by virtue of a regional or international instruments in respect of which Tanzania is a designated state, shall have the same effect in Tanzania as a design registered under this Act, unless the Registrar has communicated to the Regional or International Office in respect of the application thereof, a decision in accordance with the provisions of such instrument that if the design is registered, that design shall have no effect in Tanzania.
4. Repeal of section 77 (Innocent infringer not liable for damages) and section 78 (Grounds upon which court may declare that rights have not been acquired in Tanzania).

Trade and Service Marks Act Cap 326 RE 2023:

1. New definitions i.e. certification mark, collective mark, date of entry into force, Protocol, sign and TRIPS Agreement.
2. “Protocol” means the Banjul Protocol on Marks within the Framework of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation adopted at Banjul, Gambia.
3. “TRIPS Agreement” means the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement of Marrakesh, Morocco 1994 as amended.
4. Addition of section 16A – collective mark: a mark capable of distinguishing, in the course of trade, the goods or services of persons who are members of an association, from goods or services of persons who are not members of such association, shall on application in the prescribed manner, be registrable as a collective trade mark or service mark in respect of the goods or services in the name of such association.
5. Addition of section 16B – certification mark: a mark adopted in relation to any goods to distinguish in the course of trade goods certified by any person in respect of origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality, accuracy or other characteristic from goods not so certified shall be registrable as a certification mark.
6. Addition of section 19A – protection of well-known marks: a trade mark which is entitled to protection under the Convention or the TRIPS Agreement as a well-known mark, shall be a mark which is well known in Tanzania.
7. Addition of section 28A – recognition of registration under the Protocol: a trade or service mark registered by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) on or after the date of entry into force, describing Tanzania as a designated state, shall be deemed registered under this Act unless the Registrar has communicated to ARIPO in respect of the application thereof, a decision in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol that if the mark is registered, that mark shall have no effect in Tanzania.