Myanmar issues new customs rules on trademarks

27 September 2023

On 14 July 2023, the Myanmar Ministry of Planning and Finance issued Notification No. 50/2023 (“Notification No. 50”) which sets out the rules, requirements, and procedures for registered trademark owners to protect their intellectual property rights. Notification No. 50 allows for the enforcement of registered trademarks with a view to stemming the influx of counterfeit products into Myanmar. This could be particularly significant to Myanmar because of its proximity to countries with an acknowledged counterfeiting issue. 

If the application by the registered trademark owner is accepted, the Myanmar Customs Department will provide the applicant with a registration number within 15 days of receiving the applications. Such registrations are valid for two years from the acceptance date of the application and can be renewed every two years, 30 days before the expiration date.