The Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) has announced the implementation of minimum fees for clearing and forwarding services in Tanzania, following the publication of a new regulatory order.
In a public notice dated March 20, 2026, TASAC informed stakeholders that the Tanzania Shipping Agencies (Fees for Clearing and Forwarding Services) Order, 2026, was published in Government Gazette No. 83 on the same date and has since come into operation.
The Order sets minimum agency fees applicable to clearing and forwarding services across the country and prohibits charging below the prescribed thresholds. It also introduces basic compliance requirements such as issuance of receipts, proper recordkeeping, and the use of relevant electronic systems as may be required by competent authorities.
TASAC will actively monitor compliance with the Order. “Any individual or entity found to be in breach will be liable to penalties as provided under the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act Cap. 415 and its related regulations,” the notice read in part. The application of the order, however, is limited to mainland Tanzania and does not extend to Zanzibar.
The corporation derives its mandate to regulate rates and charges under Section 28 of the act. In practical terms, the introduction of minimum fees is meant to bring some order in the market, promote fair competition, and support quality service standards across the industry.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Edward John Urio, president of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA), described the move as a major step forward for the sector. He noted that it will help protect genuine operators from unfair competition and unprofessional practices.
“For the first time in the history of our country, clearing and forwarding business is going to be respected as a professional business operated with standards,” he said.
This kind of pricing framework is not new when compared with other professions. Sectors such as accounting and legal practice have for years operated with structured fee guidelines set by their professional bodies. These frameworks help prevent undercutting, protect the value of the profession, and ensure a certain level of service quality. In many ways, the clearing and forwarding industry in Tanzania is now moving in that same direction and gradually positioning itself as a structured and recognized profession.
This development is a result of years of engagement by TAFFA.
At the regional level, similar conversations are already ongoing. Rwanda has had minimum fee arrangements for some years. While minimum fees in Rwanda are not legally anchored in the same way as in Tanzania, they have been working and were revised in 2025 to reflect changing market dynamics. In Kenya, the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) has been engaging regulators, including the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), to clear the way for a similar framework. The process is at an advanced stage, with implementation expected this year.
From a broader perspective, these developments align with ongoing efforts by the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) to promote self-regulation in the industry. FEAFFA has been advocating for a legally backed framework with internal structures to address the legal gaps with existing laws such as the East Africa Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004. The proposed law will, among other things, strengthen the management of practitioners across the region while supporting mutual recognition of freight forwarders as a profession within the EAC’s Common Market Protocol.
“This development marks an important step toward professionalizing the clearing and forwarding industry, ensuring fair pricing, and enhancing service quality across the region,” said Charles Mwebembezi, president of FEAFFA.
The writer, Andrew Onionga, is the Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) secretariat and can be reached at oniongaam@gmail.com
