Since our previous update, Tanzania has been suspended from ARIPO’s regional trade mark system after The Court of Appeal of Tanzania ruled that the country never properly adopted the Banjul Protocol into its national law. This means ARIPO trade marks have no legal effect in Tanzania. Until the law is changed, brand owners cannot designate Tanzania in new ARIPO applications – and it has been removed from the list of designated states on the official ARIPO application form.

The ruling also impacts ongoing disputes and anti-counterfeiting actions, which will fail if based solely on ARIPO registrations. Existing ARIPO trade marks covering the country are unenforceable.

In short, ARIPO filings are not valid in Tanzania, and direct national registration is the only secure path for trade mark protection.

Please also refer to the press release issued by ARIPO on 24 October 2025.

Contact us for more information, or view more legal updates. Visit the interactive map on our Regions page for more information on IP law in Tanzania and other African countries, or find out more about our trade mark expertise in Africa.