Consumer's Protection Policy Brief

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — 13 October 2025

Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has called on the government to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for consumer protection to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in Tanzania’s expanding trade sector.

In its newly released policy brief titled “Strengthening Legal Framework for Consumer Protection in Tanzania’s Trade Policy,” LHRC emphasizes the need for timely implementation of commitments outlined in the National Trade Policy (2023) and its 10-Year Implementation Strategy (2023–2033).

While the revised policy aims to promote export-led industrial growth, LHRC notes that consumer protection remains under-implemented despite being one of the policy’s key objectives. The Centre further observes that Tanzania still lacks a standalone consumer protection policy, and several commitments within the trade framework have either been delayed or partially achieved.

Progress and Implementation Gaps

LHRC’s review highlights that the 2024 Fair Competition (Amendment) Act expanded the mandate of the Fair Competition Commission (FCC) to handle consumer complaints. However, the Consumer Complaints Handling Procedures remain outdated and misaligned with the FCC’s new role.

The organization also notes that the absence of a Trade Remedies Act continues to limit Tanzania’s ability to respond to unfair trade practices that affect both businesses and consumers. Furthermore, slow progress in establishing the Consumer Advocacy Council risks delaying much-needed consumer engagement and advocacy mechanisms.

Key Recommendations

To accelerate progress, LHRC recommends the following:

1. FCC should urgently review and update its Consumer Complaints Handling Procedures to align with its expanded responsibilities.

2. The Government should fast-track the drafting and tabling of the Trade Remedies Bill to meet the 2025 target.

3. The Ministry of Industry and Trade should prioritize the operationalization of the Consumer Advocacy Council by 2026 to enhance advocacy and representation.

Promoting Fair Markets and Human Rights

LHRC stresses that consumer protection is not only an economic issue but a human rights concern—central to ensuring citizens’ access to safe products, fair prices, and justice in trade relations. Strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks will help safeguard public interest, promote market fairness, and sustain momentum in Tanzania’s trade reform agenda.

This publication forms part of LHRC’s ongoing Consumer Rights Awareness Campaign, which aims to empower citizens with knowledge of their rights, remedies, and responsibilities in the marketplace.

For more details and in-depth recommendations, download the full Policy here