By Peter Nyanje
Tanzania has taken a significant step in strengthening market surveillance and consumer protection after the Fair Competition Commission (FCC) was formally onboarded onto the Tanzania National Online Goods Authentication System (TANOGA), a digital platform embedded within the country’s customs clearance process.
This was said in Dar es Salaam on February 23, 2025, by FCC
Acting Director for Ant-Counterfeits, Salvatory Chuwa, when addressing journalists and editors.
“The move signals a shift from traditional, reactive enforcement towards a technology-driven and preventive approach aimed at sealing long-standing loopholes exploited by counterfeiters at ports of entry,” he said.
A digital shield at the border
According to Chuwa, TANOGA is designed to identify, track and intercept counterfeit and illicit goods before they enter the Tanzanian market.
He said by embedding regulatory enforcement directly into customs systems, the platform ensures that checks are conducted at the border – rather than after goods have already reached consumers.
For the FCC, whose mandate includes enforcing competition law, consumer protection and safeguarding intellectual property rights, integration into TANOGA represents a major operational upgrade.
Chuwa says the system allows the Commission to intervene earlier in the supply chain, reducing the social and economic damage caused by counterfeit products, which range from unsafe medicines and substandard electronics to fake spare parts and branded consumer goods.
Early detection cuts costs and risks
Under TANOGA, consignments are automatically screened using Harmonised System (HS) Codes linked to high-risk product categories such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronics, automotive spare parts and fast-moving consumer goods.
Chuwa told reporters that once flagged, such shipments cannot proceed through customs clearance without FCC inspection and approval.
“This early detection mechanism is expected to dramatically reduce the circulation of fake goods while lowering enforcement costs. Instead of relying on costly post-market raids and inspections, the FCC can now block suspect goods at the border – where intervention is faster, cheaper and more effective,” he noted.
Real-time trademark verification
Mr Chuwa says a key feature of TANOGA is its live Recorded Trademark Register, which FCC inspectors can access instantly during clearance.
“Through the system, officers are able to verify trademarks, confirm authorised manufacturers, check licensing arrangements and validate countries of origin in real time. This eliminates dependence on paper documentation, which has often been vulnerable to forgery and manipulation,” he said.
Brand owners and legitimate importers, he noted, stand to benefit most, as the system strengthens protection against intellectual property infringement while reducing delays caused by manual verification processes.
Faster, tougher enforcement
When goods are identified as counterfeit or illicit, TANOGA enables immediate action. Shipments are detained electronically, formal notices of seizure are issued, and investigations are digitally documented and time-stamped.
Penalties – including fines, confiscation and destruction of counterfeit goods – are then applied in accordance with the law.
The anti-counterfeit director says this creates a strong deterrent effect by raising both the cost and risk of engaging in counterfeit trade, while levelling the playing field for compliant businesses.
Transparency and investor confidence
Because every enforcement action under TANOGA is logged digitally, the system improves accountability and transparency. Decisions can be traced, discretionary abuse is reduced, and coordination between agencies is strengthened.
For investors and multinational brand owners, this is seen as a boost to confidence in Tanzania’s regulatory environment, particularly in sectors where counterfeiting poses high commercial and safety risks.
Broader economic implications
As a key regional trade hub serving markets in the East African Community, Southern African Development Community and across the Indian Ocean, Tanzania faces growing pressure to modernise border enforcement in line with global best practices.
Analysts say digital systems like TANOGA support industrialisation and local manufacturing by shielding domestic producers from unfair competition, while also improving revenue collection and trade facilitation.
Structural reform, not just a system upgrade
Officials describe FCC’s integration into TANOGA as more than a technical change. It represents a structural reform in how Tanzania polices its markets – shifting enforcement from reactive to preventive, and from manual to data-driven.
As counterfeit trade becomes increasingly sophisticated and cross-border in nature, authorities believe the system positions Tanzania to respond with greater speed, accuracy and credibility. By plugging the FCC into TANOGA, Tanzania has strengthened its frontline defence against counterfeits, enhanced consumer protection, and taken another step towards becoming a more predictable and secure place to do business.
