---
title: "Tanzania: FCC to Accept Only National Trade Marks for Recordal"
description: "The Tanzania FCC confirmed that it will no longer accept international or ARIPO trade mark registrations for the purposes of trade mark recordation."
image: https://spoor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/trade-marks-designating-Tanzania-e1760425211360.jpg
canonical: https://spoor.com/tanzania-national-trade-marks/
url: https://spoor.getmd.ai/tanzania-national-trade-marks/.md
last_converted: 2026-05-01T16:50:19.170Z
---

[Home](https://spoor.com)
› [Knowledge Centre](https://spoor.com/knowledge-centre/)
›
[Legal Updates/](https://spoor.com/knowledge-centre/legal-updates/)

›
Tanzania: FCC to Accept Only National Trade Marks for Recordal

# Tanzania: FCC to Accept Only National Trade Marks for Recordal

Spoor & Fisher
- 2 February 2026
[Tanzania](https://spoor.com/tag/tanzania/), [Trade Marks](https://spoor.com/tag/trade-marks/),

The Tanzania Fair Competition Commission (FCC) has confirmed that, with effect from 10 January 2026, it will no longer accept international or ARIPO trade mark registrations for the purposes of trade mark recordation. Going forward, the FCC will only accept recordal applications based on trade marks that are duly registered with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). Proof of a pending national application will not be accepted.

This development follows the recent Court of Appeal of Tanzania decision confirming that ARIPO trade marks designating mainland Tanzania are not enforceable, as the Banjul Trade Marks Protocol was never incorporated into Tanzanian law. As a result, [Tanzania has been suspended from ARIPO’s regional trade mark system](https://spoor.com/tanzania-suspension-aripos-trade-mark-system/), and ARIPO trade mark registrations have no legal effect in the country.

These changes have important implications for brand owners, particularly in light of the mandatory trade mark recordation programme introduced by the FCC for all trade marks relating to goods imported into mainland Tanzania. Without a national BRELA registration, brand owners will be unable to record their trade marks with the FCC, limiting their ability to rely on recordals for anti-counterfeiting and enforcement purposes.

In summary:

- The FCC will only accept trade mark recordals based on BRELA registrations.

- ARIPO trade marks are unenforceable in mainland Tanzania.

- National trade mark registration is now the only secure route to enforceable rights and FCC recordal.

Brand owners are advised to review their Tanzanian trade mark portfolios urgently and to consider filing national applications where protection or recordal is required.

[Contact us](mailto:info@spoor.co.uk) for more information, or view more [legal updates from various jurisdictions](https://spoor.com/knowledge-centre/legal-updates/) across Africa and The Caribbean. Visit the interactive map on our [Regions](https://spoor.com/regions/africa/) page for more information on IP law in Tanzania and other African countries, or find out more about our [trade mark expertise in Africa](https://spoor.com/service/trade-marks/).