THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.499
CHAPTER 46
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES
(LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
part i
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
part ii
OFFICERS
3. Registrar and Assistant Registrar.
4. Proof of documents.
part iii
REGISTRATION OF INDUSTRIES
5. Application.
6. Compulsory registration.
7. Existing industries.
8. Certificate of registration.
part iv
INDUSTRIAL LICENSING BOARD
9. Application.
10. Establishment of Board.
11. Constitution of Board.
12. Regional Advisory Committee.
part v
OPERATION OF INDUSTRIAL LICENSING
13. Carrying on enterprise without industrial licence.
14. Repealed.
15. Application for industrial licences.
16. Functions of Board.

STRIAL LICENSING
13. Carrying on enterprise without industrial licence.
14. Repealed.
15. Application for industrial licences.
16. Functions of Board.

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
500
17. Functions of Regional Advisory Committee.
18. Industrial licence.
19. Transfer of licence.
20. Application for transfer.
21. Variations of conditions.
22. Proceedings of Board.
23. Revocation of licence.
24. Functions of Registrar in relation to Board.
25. Existing industries.
26. Repealed.
part vi
APPEALS
27. Appeals to Minister.
part vii
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
28. Penalty.
29. Registers.
30. Exemptions.
31. Regulations.

26. Repealed.
part vi
APPEALS
27. Appeals to Minister.
part vii
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
28. Penalty.
29. Registers.
30. Exemptions.
31. Regulations.

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.501
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1.–(1) This Act may be cited as the National Industries
(Licensing and Registration) Act. (2) This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as
Tanzania Zanzibar. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Board” means the Industrial Licensing Board established
under section 10;
“certificate of registration” means a certificate of registration
of an industry issued under section 8;
“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board and includes
the Vice-Chairman;
“factory” means any building or place, and any machinery
or plant therein or thereon, intended to be used or is used
for manufacture;
“industry” means a factory in which ten or more workers are
employed on any day;
Short title
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 2
Interpretation
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 3
CHAPTER 46
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES
(LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT
An Act to make provision for the orderly promotion and development
of industries, to provide for the registration and licensing of certain
industries and for related matters. [15th July, 1967]
[GN. No.

and development
of industries, to provide for the registration and licensing of certain
industries and for related matters. [15th July, 1967]
[GN. No.

239 of 1967]
Acts Nos. 10 of 1967
13 of 1982
13 of 1991
10 of 1992
5 of 1995

239 of 1967]
Acts Nos. 10 of 1967
13 of 1982
13 of 1991
10 of 1992
5 of 1995

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E.

No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E.

2023]
502
“industrial licence” means an industrial licence granted
under this Act;
“licensee” means the person to whom an industrial licence
has been granted, and includes the person to whom such
licence is transferred in accordance with the provisions
of this Act;
“manufacture”, with its grammatical variations and cognate
expressions, means-
(a) the production of any article by the process of mechanical
or chemical transformation of any inorganic or organic
substance, whether such transformation is carried out
by power driven machinery or by manual labour;
(b) the making, processing, altering, repairing, ornamenting,
finishing, cleaning or washing or the breaking up or
demolition of an article; or
(c) the adapting for sale of any article, and includes the
assembly of component parts of manufactured products;
“member” means a member of the Board and includes the
Chairman;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for industries;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of industries appointed under
section 3 and includes Assistant Registrars of industries;
“worker” means a person employed in any industry by the
owner of such industry whether he performs his duties
in relation to the industry at any factory engaged in the
industry or outside such factory.

the
owner of such industry whether he performs his duties
in relation to the industry at any factory engaged in the
industry or outside such factory.

(2) For purposes of this Act, an industry shall be deemed
to have been established when any article or component part
of an article for the manufacture of which the industry is
established is produced, whether or not such article or part is
used, sold, exposed for sale or otherwise dealt with.

facture of which the industry is
established is produced, whether or not such article or part is
used, sold, exposed for sale or otherwise dealt with.

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.503
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
PART II
OFFICERS
3.–(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister
responsible for industries in the Revolutionary Government
of Zanzibar by Notice published in the Gazette, appoint a
Registrar of industries and a Deputy Registrar and as many
Assistant Registrars as he may think fit. (2) In the event of the Registrar so appointed being from
Mainland Tanzania, the Deputy Registrar shall be from Tanzania
Zanzibar and if the Registrar is from Tanzania Zanzibar, the
Deputy Registrar shall be from Mainland Tanzania. 4. A certificate, licence or other document purporting to be
signed by the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar shall, until
the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so signed by
him and may be proved by the production of a copy thereof
purporting to have been so signed. PART III
REGISTRATION OF INDUSTRIES
5. This Part shall apply to all small scale industries as may be
determined by the Minister.

have been so signed. PART III
REGISTRATION OF INDUSTRIES
5. This Part shall apply to all small scale industries as may be
determined by the Minister.

6.–(1) A person shall not, after the commencement of this Act,
establish any industry unless he has obtained a certificate of
registration in respect of the industry. (2) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection
(1) commits an offence. 7.–(1) Where at the commencement of this Act any person
is the owner of any industry he shall, within ninety days of
the commencement of this Act, apply for a certificate of
registration in respect of the industry. (2) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection
(1) commits an offence. Registrar
and Assistant
Registrar
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 3A
Proof of
documents
Application
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 4
Compulsory
registration
Existing
industries

ar
and Assistant
Registrar
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 3A
Proof of
documents
Application
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 4
Compulsory
registration
Existing
industries

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
504
8.–(1) An application for a certificate of registration shall be
made to the Registrar and shall give such particulars as may
be prescribed. (2) Upon receipt of an application and on being satisfied
that all the particulars required to be given therein have been
given the Registrar shall issue a certificate of registration in the
prescribed form in respect of the industry. PART IV
INDUSTRIAL LICENSING BOARD
9. This part shall apply to medium and large scale industries as
may be determined by the Minister. 10. There is hereby established a Board to be known as the
Industrial Licensing Board which shall have such functions
and powers as are conferred upon it by this Act.

eby established a Board to be known as the
Industrial Licensing Board which shall have such functions
and powers as are conferred upon it by this Act.

11.–(1) The Minister shall, after consultation with the Minister
responsible for industries in the Revolutionary Government
of Zanzibar, by Notice in the Gazette, appoint members of
the Board, including the Chairman and Vice-Chairman and
the provisions of section 3 in relation to the appointment of
Registrar and Deputy Registrar shall apply mutatis mutandis
to the appointment of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the
Board under this section and the content of the notice so given
shall include constitution and proceedings of the Board. (2) Matters considered by the Board shall, in the event of
a difference of opinion, be decided by the votes of a majority
of members present at any meeting, and in the event of an
equality of votes, the Chairman presiding over the meeting
shall have a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote. (3) Half of the members, one of whom shall be the Chairman
or Vice-Chairman shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. Certificate of
registration
Application
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 5
Establishment of
Board
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 5
Constitution of
Board
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 6

icate of
registration
Application
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 5
Establishment of
Board
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 5
Constitution of
Board
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 6

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.505
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
12.–(1) There is hereby established a Regional Industrial
Licensing Advisory Committee for each region in the United
Republic. (2) The Regional Industrial Licensing Advisory Committee
shall be composed of-
(a) a person for the time being holding the office of Regional
Development Director, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) a person for the time being holding the office of
Regional Planning Officer;
(c) an officer in charge of small scale Industries in the
Region;
(d) a person for the time being holding the office of Regional
Trade Officer; and
(e) such other members, not exceeding six to be nominated
by the Minister. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), in
relation to Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, each
Regional Industrial Advisory Committee shall be composed
of persons holding equivalent designation to those specified in
subsection (2).

anzibar, each
Regional Industrial Advisory Committee shall be composed
of persons holding equivalent designation to those specified in
subsection (2).

PART V
OPERATION OF INDUSTRIAL LICENSING
13.–(1) Notwithstanding any provision in this Act, where a
certificate granted under the Tanzania Investment Act, is in
force in respect of a person and an enterprise, that person
may carry on the enterprise without being the holder of an
industrial licence relating to the enterprise. (2) Where a certificate is granted in respect of an enterprise,
any industrial licence then in force in respect of the enterprise
shall cease to be in force to the extent that it relates to the
enterprise. 14. [Repealed by Act No. 13 of 1982, s. 7]. Regional
Advisory
Committee
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 6
Carrying on
enterprise
without industrial
licence
Acts Nos. 13 of 1982 s. 7
10 of 1992 Sch. Cap. 38
Repealed

dvisory
Committee
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 6
Carrying on
enterprise
without industrial
licence
Acts Nos. 13 of 1982 s. 7
10 of 1992 Sch. Cap. 38
Repealed

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
506
15. An application for an industrial licence for the manufacture
of any article shall be made to the Board and in the prescribed
form. 16.

. 2023]
506
15. An application for an industrial licence for the manufacture
of any article shall be made to the Board and in the prescribed
form. 16.

The Board shall consider all applications for industrial
licences made to it under section 15 and may, subject to the
provisions of this Act, in its discretion grant or refuse any
application, and in considering any application, the Board
shall, in addition to all matters which it may consider relevant,
have regard to-
(a) the capital, technical skill and raw materials available to
the applicant;
(b) the sitting, or proposed sitting, of the industry in
relation to the availability of power, fuel, labour,
transport, raw materials, land and water;
(c) the potential production of, and the potential demand
for, both within the United Republic and elsewhere, in
so far as, in the opinion of the Board, such production
and demand is likely to affect the industry in respect of
which the application is made;
(d) the interests and conditions of service of the labour
employed or to be employed by the applicant;
(e) the interests of the potential consumers of the
prescribed article for the manufacture of which the
industry is proposed to be established;
(f) the general production and development of industries
within the United Republic and the avoidance of
uneconomic competition; and
(g) the fair distribution of industries on a regional basis
having regard to the factors specified in paragraph (b).

ce of
uneconomic competition; and
(g) the fair distribution of industries on a regional basis
having regard to the factors specified in paragraph (b).

17. The Regional Advisory Committee shall advise the Central
Industrial Licensing Authority on-
(a) the capital, technical skill, managerial capacity and raw
material available to the applicant within the region or
adjacent regions;
Application for
industrial licences
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 8
Functions of
Board
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 9
Cap. 38
Functions
of Regional
Advisory
Committee
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 10

licences
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 8
Functions of
Board
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 9
Cap. 38
Functions
of Regional
Advisory
Committee
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 10

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.507
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
(b) the availability of power, fuel labour, transport, raw
materials, land and water within the region, and;
(c) any other matter it may consider relevant in respect
of any application for an industrial licence originating
from the region. 18. An industrial licence granted by the Board, shall specify
and be subject to such conditions as the Board may think fit
to impose. 19. An industrial licence shall not be transferable except with
the prior approval of the Board. 20. An application for approval of a proposed transfer of an
industrial licence shall be made to the Board in the prescribed
form, and the Board may, in its discretion, grant or refuse
the application and may if the application is granted, attach
conditions to the licence and, where conditions are already
attached to the licence which is sought to be transferred,
may add further conditions thereto or vary or delete existing
conditions. 21.

s are already
attached to the licence which is sought to be transferred,
may add further conditions thereto or vary or delete existing
conditions. 21.

The conditions attached to an industrial licence granted
under the provisions of this Part may be varied by the Board
either on its own motion or on an application made to it by the
licensee in the prescribed form. 22.–(1) The Board shall, as soon as practicable, meet for the
purpose of inquiring into every application for an industrial
licence, or for approval of a transfer of an industrial licence,
or for variation of conditions attached to an industrial licence,
made to it under the provisions of this Part. (2) The date, time and place of the inquiry shall be notified
by the Registrar to the applicant. (3) The Board shall investigate every application and shall
hear and consider all relevant evidence and matters submitted
by or on behalf of the applicant. Industrial licence
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 11
Transfer of
licence
Application for
transfer
Variations of
conditions
Proceedings of
Board

the applicant. Industrial licence
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 11
Transfer of
licence
Application for
transfer
Variations of
conditions
Proceedings of
Board

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
508
(4) Save as is provided in this section the procedure at any
inquiry held by the Board shall be within the discretion of the
Board. 23.–(1) Where the Board is satisfied that a licensee has-
(a) failed to comply with any condition attached to his
licence; or
(b) failed or ceased to operate the industry in respect of
which the licence was granted to him, the Board may,
in its discretion, call upon him to show cause why his
licence should not be revoked; and for such purpose
the Board may hold such inquiry as it may think fit. (2) Where a licensee who has under subsection (1) been
called upon to show cause why his licence should not be revoked
fails to do so to the satisfaction of the Board, the Board may
revoke the licence from such date as the Board may decide or
may make such other order, including variation of the licence
or of the conditions attached thereto, as it may think fit. 24.–(1) All acts and decisions of the Board shall be signified
through the Registrar.

ence
or of the conditions attached thereto, as it may think fit. 24.–(1) All acts and decisions of the Board shall be signified
through the Registrar.

(2) The Registrar shall communicate the decision of the
Board to the applicant and where the Board has-
(a) approved an application for the grant of an industrial
licence, issue to the applicant a licence in the prescribed
form;
(b) approved the transfer of an industrial licence, call for
and amend the licence or call for and cancel the licence
issued to the licensee and amend the same or issue a
fresh licence;
(c) varied the conditions of an industrial licence, call for
the licence issued to the licensee and amend the same
or issue a fresh licence;
(d) revoked any industrial licence, call for and cancel the
licence. Revocation of
licence
Functions of
Registrar in
relation to Board

fresh licence;
(d) revoked any industrial licence, call for and cancel the
licence. Revocation of
licence
Functions of
Registrar in
relation to Board

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.509
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
25.–(1) Within ninety days of the operative date of this Act,
any person operating a manufacturing industry or of factory
shall apply to the Board for an industrial licence in respect of
the industry or factory. (2) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection
(1) commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable to a
fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings. 26. [Repealed by Act No. 13 of 1982, s. 13]. PART VI
APPEALS
27.–(1) A person who being-
(a) an applicant for the grant of an industrial licence, or for
the transfer of or variation of the conditions attached to
an industrial licence, is aggrieved by the decision of the
Board; or
(b) a holder of an industrial licence, is aggrieved by the
revocation or variation thereof, may, within the time
and in the manner prescribed, appeal to the Minister.

an industrial licence, is aggrieved by the
revocation or variation thereof, may, within the time
and in the manner prescribed, appeal to the Minister.

(2) On any appeal made to the Minister under this section,
the Minister may affirm, reverse or vary the decision of the
Board or may make such other order as may appear to him
necessary and just. PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
28. A person who commits an offence under this Act, for which
no penalty is specifically provided, on conviction, shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings. 29. The Registrar shall maintain a Register of the industries in
respect of which certificates of registration have been granted
Existing
industries
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 12
Repealed
Appeals to
Minister
Penalty
Acts Nos. 13 of 1982 s. 14;
13 of 1991 Sch. 5 of 1995 Sch. Registers

Existing
industries
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 12
Repealed
Appeals to
Minister
Penalty
Acts Nos. 13 of 1982 s. 14;
13 of 1991 Sch. 5 of 1995 Sch. Registers

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION) ACT [CAP. 46 R.E. 2023]
510
under Part III, and a Register of industries in respect of which
industrial licences have been granted, and shall enter in the
registers such particulars as may be prescribed. 30. The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette,
exempt any industry or any category of industries from all or
any of the provision of this Act.

. The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette,
exempt any industry or any category of industries from all or
any of the provision of this Act.

31.–(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister
responsible for industries in the Revolutionary Government of
Zanzibar, make regulations for the better carrying out of the
provisions and purposes of this Act and without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing may make regulations-
(a) requiring owners of industries to keep records of the
number of workers employed, the conditions of service,
the level of production and of such other matters as he
may think necessary;
(b) requiring the owners of industries to make returns
relating to such matters as he may think necessary;
(c) prescribing the forms to be used and the particulars to
be furnished for any of the purposes of this Act;
(d) providing for the grant of copies of licences and
certificates;
(e) prescribing fees for applications, licences and registration;
(f) prescribing conditions for licences, including conditions
for provisional licences;
(g) prescribing for the composition and manner in which
the Board members shall be appointed;
(h) prescribing anything which under the provisions of
this Act may be prescribed.

mposition and manner in which
the Board members shall be appointed;
(h) prescribing anything which under the provisions of
this Act may be prescribed.

(2) In addition to making such provisions as in subsection
(1), regulations made under this section may fix such penalty
not exceeding a fine of ten thousand shillings for the breach of,
or non-compliance with any regulation. Exemptions
Regulations
Act No. 13 of 1982 s. 15
GN. No. 246 of 1967