The Commodity Exchange Act
This provision says the Act may be cited as the Commodity Exchanges Act and applies to Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar.
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About this statute
This provision says the Act may be cited as the Commodity Exchanges Act and applies to Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar. This section defines key terms used in the Act, including Authority, commodity broker, commodity dealer, and trading member. The Authority must assess whether a person is fit and proper by looking at financial status, qualifications, competence, honesty, fairness, integrity, reliability, and related suitability factors. The Authority is responsible for regulating and supervising commodity exchanges and for administering and enforcing this Act. The Authority’s objectives for commodity exchanges are to promote fair, efficient, competitive, transparent, orderly, stable, integral, and disciplined markets, while protecting buyers, sellers, and investors appropriately.
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Provisions of The Commodity Exchange Act
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Short title and application
This provision says the Act may be cited as the Commodity Exchanges Act and applies to Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar.
1.–(1) This Act may be cited as the Commodity Exchanges Act. (2) This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as to Tanzania Zanzibar. - 2 Verify source ↗
3. Determination of “fit and proper”
This section defines key terms used in the Act, including Authority, commodity broker, commodity dealer, and trading member.
2.–(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “Authority” means the Capital Markets and Securities and Securities Authority established by section 6 of the Capital Markets and Securities Act; “clearing facility” or “clearing house” has the meaning ascribed to it under the Capital Markets and Securities Act; “clearing member” means a member of the clearing house engaged in providing clearing services and includes all categories of clearing members as may be prescribed 536 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] by the Authority and shall include trading member while performing functions of clearing and settling trades; “commodity” means- (a) agricultural, livestock, fishery, forestry, mining or energy goods, or any product that is manufactured or processed from any such goods; (b) financial instruments; (c) an index, right or interest in any such commodity; (d) any other matter as may be determined by the Authority through official Gazette notification to be the subject of a commodity contract; “commodity broker” means a company which is licenced by the Authority as an agent of buyer, seller or investors to carry on the business of soliciting or accepting orders, for the purchase or sale of any commodity contracts by way of commodity trading, whether or not the business is part of, or is carried on in conjunction with, any other business; “commodity broker’s representative” means a person who acts for, or by arrangement with, a commodity broker other than a person who is a director of a company holding a commodity broker’s licence or is a person who is in the direct employment of a commodity broker and who performs any of the functions of that commodity broker in connection with trading in commodities whether his remuneration is by way of commission or otherwise; “commodity contract” includes a- (a) spot commodity contract; (b) commodity futures contract; and (c) such other contract or class of contracts as the Authority may prescribe by regulations under this Act; “commodity dealer” means a person who, is licenced by the Authority to deal in commodity contracts as principal or as an agent; 537 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] “commodity dealer’s representative” means a natural person licenced by the Authority to act for, or by arrangement, with a commodity dealer to perform any of the functions of that commodity dealer in connection with dealing in commodity contracts, other than work ordinarily performed by accountants, clerks or cashiers whether or not he is remunerated, and whether his remuneration, if any, is by way of salary, wages, commission or otherwise; “commodity exchange” means a market licenced by the Authority at which, or a facility, whether electronic or otherwise by means of which, offers or invitations to sell, purchase or exchange commodity contracts are regularly made on a centralised basis, being offers or invitations that are intended or may reasonably be expected, to result, directly or indirectly, in the acceptance or making, respectively, of offers to sell, purchase or exchange of commodity contracts but does not include- (a) the office or facilities of a commodity dealer or broker; (b) the office or facilities of a clearing house; “commodity exchange business” means trading in, or advising on trading in commodity contracts on a commodity exchange; “commodity forward contract” means a contract the effect of which is that one party agrees to deliver a specified commodity, or a specified quantity of a specified commodity, to another party at a specified future time and at a specified price payable at the time of entering the contract, but does not include a commodity futures contract; “commodity futures contract” means a contract the effect of which is that- (a) one party agrees to deliver to the other party a specified commodity, or a specified quantity of a specified commodity, at a specified future time and at a specified price payable at that future time, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the rules of 538 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] the commodity exchange at which the contract is made and includes options on contracts of the nature described in paragraph (b); or (b) the parties shall discharge their obligations under the contract by settling the difference between the value of a specified quantity of a specified commodity agreed at the time of the making of the contract and at a specified future time, such difference being determined in accordance with the rules of the commodity exchange at which the contract is made and includes options on contracts of the nature described in paragraph (a); “commodity market” means- (a) a market, whether in Tanzania or elsewhere, at which commodity contracts are regularly traded; or (b) an electronic system, whether operating in Tanzania or elsewhere, through which trading in commodity contracts is carried out, but excludes an electronic facility which merely provides price or other information relating to commodity contracts whether that facility is part of or carried on in conjunction with the provision of any other information not related to commodity contracts and which does not permit users of the facility to channel orders for, execute transactions in, or make markets in, commodity contracts; “commodity pool operator” means any person who carries on a business in the nature of a collective investment scheme and who, in connection therewith, accepts or receives from other persons funds, security or property, either directly or through capital contributions, the sale of shares or other forms of security or otherwise for the purpose of buying or selling commodities on spot or for the purpose of trading future or option contracts; “commodity pool operator’s representative” means a person in the direct employment of, or acting for, or by arrangement with, a spot commodity pool operator, who performs for that commodity pool operator any of the functions of a commodity pool operator; 539 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] “commodity trading adviser” is a company which for payment has been licenced by the Authority to engage in the business of advising others either directly or through publications or writings as to the value of commodities or derivatives or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling commodities contracts but does not include- (a) a licenced commodity dealer or broker whose provision of advice or issuance of analyses or reports is solely incidental to the conduct of his business as a commodity dealer or broker and who receives no special compensation therefore; (b) a person who gives such advice or issues such analyses or reports on: (i) a newspaper, magazine, book or other publication which is made generally available to the public; or (ii) television broadcast or radio broadcast for reception by the public, whether on subscription or otherwise; “commodity trading adviser’s representative” means a natural person in the employment of, or acting for, or by arrangement with a commodity trading adviser, who performs for that commodity trading adviser any of the functions of a commodity trading adviser other than work ordinarily performed by accountants, clerks or cashiers whether or not he is remunerated, and whether his remuneration, if any, is by way of salary, wages, commission or otherwise; “dealing in commodity contracts” means, whether as principal or as agent- (a) making or offering to make with any person, or inducing or attempting to induce any person to enter into or to offer to enter into any agreement for or with a view to the purchase or sale of a commodity contracts; or 540 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) soliciting or accepting any order for, or otherwise dealing in, commodity contracts; “financial instrument” includes any currency, currency index, interest rate instrument, interest rate index, share, share index, stock, stock index, debenture, bond index, bearer bonds, commercial paper, Exchange Traded Fund, contracts for difference, a group or groups of such financial instruments and such other financial instruments or otherwise as may be determined by the Authority through notification in the official Gazette; “leveraged commodity trading” means- (a) the act of entering into or offering to enter into, or inducing or attempting to induce a person to enter into or offer to enter into, a contract or an arrangement on a margin basis other than a commodity futures contract whereby a person undertakes as determined by the terms and conditions of the contract or arrangement- (i) to make an adjustment between himself and another person according to whether a commodity is worth more or less, at a specified point in time; (ii) to pay an amount of money determined or to be determined by reference to the change in value of a commodity over a specified period of time; or (iii) to deliver to another person at an agreed future time an agreed amount of commodities at an agreed price; (b) the provision by any person referred to in paragraph (a) of any advance, credit facility or loan, directly or indirectly, to facilitate an act of the description referred to in that paragraph; or (c) the act of entering into or offering to enter into, or inducing or attempting to induce a person to enter into an arrangement with another person whether on a discretionary basis or otherwise to enter into any contract to facilitate an act of the description referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); 541 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] “market contract” in relation to a clearing house, means- (a) a contract subject to the rules of a clearing house entered into by the clearing house with a clearing member under a novation which is both in accordance with those rules and for the purpose of clearing and settlement of transactions using a clearing facility and subject to the clearing house whether before or after default proceedings have commenced; and (b) a transaction which is being cleared or settled using a clearing facility and subject to the rules of a clearing house, whether or not a novation referred to in paragraph (a) takes place; “market intermediary” means a corporate body duly licenced under this Act to provide services in the commodities exchanges and shall include any other person who is prescribed by the Authority to be a market intermediary; “member” means a shareholder or any person who holds shares of any class or description in the share capital of a commodity exchange; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for finance; “novation” in relation to clearing houses, means assigning or trading over to a clearing house the legal counterparty risk for the trade executed by two counterparties; “principal” in relation to a representative, means a person whom the representative is in the direct employment of, acting for or by arrangement with, and for whom the representative carries out any commodity exchange business; “representative” means a commodity dealer’s representative or a commodity trading adviser’s representative; “rules” in relation to a commodity exchange or clearing house, means the rules, by-laws or such similar body of statements, by whatever name called, that govern the activities and conduct of- (a) the commodity exchange or clearing house and its members or clearing members, as the case may be; (b) other persons in relation to it, 542 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Cap. 79 whether or not those rules, by-laws or similar body of statements are made by the commodity exchange or clearing house or are contained in its constituent documents; “spot commodity contract” means a contract for the supply of a commodity which is traded on a commodity exchange, the terms of which delivery is made within two trading days or a period approved by the Authority as the standard delivery period for a particular commodity; “spot commodity trading” means the purchase or sale of a commodity at its current market or spot price, where it is intended that such transaction results in the physical delivery of the commodity; “trading member” means a company licenced by the Authority to deal in commodities trading activities and admitted by a commodity exchange to trade on commodities and contracts for that particular commodity exchange; “Tribunal” means the tribunal established under the Capital Markets and Securities Act to adjudicate disputes in the capital market and commodity exchanges industry; “warehouse” means any building, structure or other protected enclosure duly licenced by the Tanzania Warehouse Licensing Board or any other relevant authority to be used for the storage or conditioning of commodities for purposes of commodity exchange trading; “warehouse inspector” means a person empowered to inspect warehouses and commodities kept therein to ensure that the warehouse operator complies with the law and the conditions of the operator’s licence; “warehouse operator” means a person duly licenced to engage in the business of operating a warehouse for receiving, storing, shipping or handling commodities for purposes of commodity exchange trading; “warehouse receipt” means a receipt issued by a licenced warehouse operator in respect of the storage, handling or shipment of a commodity for purposes of commodity exchange trading. 543 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Determination of “fit and proper” - 3 Verify source ↗
Determination of “fit and proper”
The Authority must assess whether a person is fit and proper by looking at financial status, qualifications, competence, honesty, fairness, integrity, reliability, and related suitability factors.
3.–(1) For purposes of this Act in considering whether a person is a fit and proper person, the Authority shall, in addition to any other matter that it may consider relevant, have regard to- (a) the financial status or solvency; (b) the educational or other qualifications or experience having regard to the nature of the functions which the person shall perform, if the application is granted; (c) the ability to carry on the commodity exchange business competently, honestly and fairly; and the reputation, character, financial integrity and reliability, of- (i) the individual himself where the applicant is an individual; or (ii) the company, its directors, chief executive, management and all other key personnel, and any substantial shareholder of the company where the applicant is a company. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may, in considering whether an applicant is a fit and proper person, have regard to- (a) whether the person has contravened the provision of any Act designed for the protection of investors against financial loss due to dishonesty or incompetence of, or malpractice by, persons engaged in commodity trading; (b) whether the person was a director of a market intermediary that has been liquidated or is under liquidation or statutory management; (c) whether the person has taken part in any business practice that, in the opinion of the Authority, was fraudulent, prejudicial or otherwise improper, whether unlawful or not or which otherwise discredited the person’s methods of conducting business; (d) whether the person has taken part or been associated with any other business practice as would, or has otherwise conducted himself in such manner as to, cast doubt on his competence and soundness of judgment; 544 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (e) any information in the possession of the Authority provided by the applicant relating to any person who is to be employed by, associated with, or who shall be acting for or on behalf of the applicant for purposes of a commodity exchange business. (f) whether the applicant is a company in a group of companies, any other company in the same group of companies or any substantial shareholder or officer of the company; (g) whether the person has established effective internal control procedures and risk management systems to ensure its compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements; and (h) the state of affairs of any other business which the person carries on or proposes to carry on. (3) For the purpose of this section, “group of companies” means any two or more companies one of which is the holding company of the other or others, as the case may be. PART II ADMINISTRATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AUTHORITY Administration and enforcement
Part
PART II
- 4 Verify source ↗
Administration and enforcement
The Authority is responsible for regulating and supervising commodity exchanges and for administering and enforcing this Act.
4. The Authority shall be responsible for the regulation and supervision of commodity exchanges and administration and enforcement of this Act. Regulatory objectives of Authority - 5 Verify source ↗
Regulatory objectives of Authority
The Authority’s objectives for commodity exchanges are to promote fair, efficient, competitive, transparent, orderly, stable, integral, and disciplined markets, while protecting buyers, sellers, and investors appropriately.
5. The regulatory objectives of the Authority in relation to commodity exchanges are to- (a) maintain and promote fairness, efficiency, competitiveness, transparency and orderliness of commodity exchange; the (b) provide an appropriate degree of protection for buyers, sellers or investors in commodity exchange trading, having regard to the general principle that buyer, seller or investors shall take responsibility for their decisions; and 545 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (c) promote stability, integrity and discipline in the commodity exchange markets. Functions of Authority - 6 Verify source ↗
Functions of Authority
This section lists the Authority’s functions, including advising the Minister, licensing and approving commodity market activities, enforcing compliance, and supporting regulation and investigations.
6. The functions of the Authority under this Act are to- (a) advise the Minister on all matters relating to commodity exchanges and their development; (b) approve commodity contracts; (c) investigate and act upon violation of the laws concerning the regulation of commodity exchanges and related businesses; (d) take such steps as it considers appropriate to ensure that this Act and any other legislation administered by the Authority are complied with; (e) take such steps as it considers appropriate to maintain and promote the fairness, efficiency, competitiveness, transparency and orderliness of commodity exchanges business; (f) licence commodity exchanges, commodity exchanges market intermediaries, commodity market institutions to supervise, monitor and regulate the activities of all such persons; (g) set standards of competence for commodity exchanges market intermediaries; the (h) approve rules of commodity exchanges’s depositories, and clearing houses; (i) promote, encourage and enforce the proper conduct, competence and integrity of commodity market intermediaries; (j) promote the awareness of the public with regard to commodity exchange business and markets; (k) formulate principles for the guidance of the market; (l) levy fees and charges as may be prescribed by the Authority in relation to the regulation of commodity exchanges, commodity exchange intermediaries and institutions; (m) counter and suppress market abuses in commodity exchange markets; 546 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Prohibition of operating commodity exchange without licence Cap. 212 (n) perform functions conferred or imposed on the Authority by this Act or under any other law relating to commodity exchanges; (o) co-operate with and provide assistance to regulatory authorities, within and outside Tanzania in relation to exchange of information and assistance in investigation on matters relating to commodity exchanges trading. PART III LICENSING OF COMMODITY EXCHANGES
Part
PART III
- 7 Verify source ↗
Prohibition of operating commodity exchange without licence
A person must not operate or represent a commodity exchange unless it is licensed by the Authority.
7.–(1) A person shall not establish, maintain or assist in establishing or maintaining or hold himself out as providing or maintaining a commodity exchange unless such commodity exchange, is licenced by the Authority in accordance with the requirements of subsection (4). (2) A licence shall not be granted to any person to operate as a commodity exchange other than to a company incorporated under the Companies Act. (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1), commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable- (a) in the case of a natural person, to a fine of not less than fifty million shillings or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both; and (b) in the case of a company, to a fine of not less than one hundred million shillings. (4) The Authority may, in writing and subject to any conditions or restrictions as it may consider fit to impose, grant a commodity exchange licence, if the Authority is satisfied that the interest of the public shall be served by the granting of the licence, it shall be consistent with the Authority’s objectives under the Act to license the commodity exchange and that the applicant- (a) is a fit and proper person for the licence sought; (b) has a board of directors which is constituted in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Authority in relation to corporate governance; 547 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (c) complies with requirements; the minimum prescribed capital (d) shall operate fairly, transparently, efficiently and ethically in accordance with the requirements of the licence sought; (e) shall manage any risks associated with its business and operations prudently; (f) has rules that make satisfactory provision for matters set out in section 9; and (g) complies with such other conditions as may be required by the Authority. Application and grant of licence - 8 Verify source ↗
Application and grant of licence
To operate a commodity exchange, a company must apply in the required form, follow the prescribed process, and pay the prescribed fee.
8.–(1) An application to operate a commodity exchange, shall be- (a) made by a company; (b) in the specified form; (c) in such manner as may be prescribed; and (d) accompanied by the prescribed fee. (2) The Authority may, in relation to any application under this part, require an applicant and any other person associated with the applicant, to provide the Authority with such further information in such form or verified in such manner as the Authority may direct. (3) A company which is licensed as a commodity exchange shall not appoint any person to the position of Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director, senior management or the Board of Directors, change a substantial shareholder or change the organisation structure without obtaining prior approval of the Authority. (4) Where the Authority imposes a condition or objects to a proposed change under subsection (3), the Authority shall give reasons for its decision and shall give the person concerned a right to be heard before a final decision is made. (5) A commodity exchange licensed by the Authority shall engage exclusively in the licensed activity except in respect of such other matters as are ancillary or incidental thereto as may be expressly permitted by the Authority. 548 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (6) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a licence granted to a commodity exchange shall be subject to payment of the prescribed annual licence fee. Rules of commodity exchange - 9 Verify source ↗
Rules of commodity exchange
The commodity exchange’s rules must be approved by the Authority and must cover governance, membership, participant conduct, market abuse controls, clearing, fees, complaints, and related procedures.
9.–(1) Subject to approval of the Authority, the rules of the commodity exchange shall provide for- (a) powers and functions of the governing body of the commodity exchange; (b) the appointment of directors and a fair representation of persons in the selection of members of the governing body and administration of its affairs including the professions relevant to commodities industry; (c) the terms and conditions of the Chief Executive Officer of the exchange, including a term that such Chief Executive Officer shall not be liable to appointment, dismissal or removal from his office without the prior approval of the Authority; (d) the qualifications for membership; (e) the exclusion from membership of persons who are not of good character and high integrity; (f) the expulsion, suspension or disciplinary action against members for conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles relating to trading in commodities, or for a contravention of the rules of the commodities exchange; (g) specify qualifications for applicants for membership and provisions for accepting applicants as trading participants, imposing conduct and other requirements on them; (h) the governance of the conduct activities of participants, including their responsibility to act with integrity and in the interests of maintaining a proper market, paying such fees and charges as may be applicable and abiding by the rules of the clearing house; (i) prohibit market abuse practices; 549 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (j) mechanisms for effectively investigating breaches of the rules, enforcing the rules and allowing for appeals to the Tribunal; (k) making default provisions, to the satisfaction of the Authority, for the taking of proceedings or other action if a clearing member has failed, or appears to be unable, or likely to become unable, to meet his obligations for any unsettled or open market contracts to which he is a party; (l) specifying qualifications for trading membership, imposing conduct and other requirements on them and, where appropriate, for the procedure for their removal as trading members; (m) the making of a report to the Authority by the exchange whenever it rejects any application for membership, where it suspends or expels a member or where it suspends trading in particular commodity of, or made available by the exchange; (n) procedures for developing commodity contract to be traded on the exchange; (o) with respect to the terms and conditions under which commodities or contracts may be traded; (p) an audit system relating to proprietary trading by members; (q) the classes or types of commodities that may be traded by members and the terms and conditions governing trading in commodities by members; (r) fairly and properly supervised trading practices; (s) measures to market abuses in its commodities market; (t) preventing the excessive use of credit by way of initial or maintenance margin in respect of the purchase or carrying of any commodities; (u) the recording and publishing of details of trading; (v) clearing and other arrangements made; 550 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (w) the financial condition of the commodity exchange, and the members of the commodity exchange such as to provide reasonable assurance that all obligations arising out of the trading in commodities on the commodities market of that commodity exchange shall be met; (x) dues, fees and other charges levied by the exchange; (y) internal procedures to ensure the proper handling of complaints and to ensure that any appropriate remedial action on those complaints is promptly taken; and (z) the carrying on the business of the commodity exchange generally with due regard to the interests and protection of buyers, sellers or investors. (2) The rules of a commodity exchange shall apply to the officers of the exchange, members and employees of the members of the exchange and the member shall be responsible to ensure their employees’ compliance with the rules. - 10 Verify source ↗
Appointment of representative of public
The Authority must use a competitive selection procedure to appoint a qualified, unaffiliated person to a commodity exchange Council to represent the public interest.
10.–(1) The Authority shall, through a competitive selection procedure, appoint any person who is knowledgeable about the commodity exchange operations and who is not associated with any member of the exchange, to be on the Council of any commodity exchange to represent the public interest. (2) The person appointed under subsection (1) shall have the same rights, powers, duties and obligations, liberties and privileges as any other member of the governing body of the commodity exchange. Appointment of representative of public Amendment, alterations, etc. of rules - 11 Verify source ↗
Amendment, alterations, etc. of rules
A commodity exchange may not issue or amend its rules without prior written approval from the Authority.
11.–(1) A commodity exchange shall not issue or amend its rules, unless it has obtained the prior written approval of the Authority. (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), “amendment” includes rescission, substitution, alteration, addition or deletion of the rules. 551 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Compliance with rules by members of commodity exchange (3) The Authority shall, approve or decline to approve the rules in writing to the commodity exchange. (4) The Authority may, subject to any conditions as it deems necessary, grant its approval under subsection (3) and the commodity exchange shall comply with the said conditions. (5) The Authority may, by notice in writing, require a commodity exchange to promulgate or otherwise amend its rules within a specified time. (6) The Authority may, at a cost to be borne by the commodity exchange, assist in the promulgation or amendment of rules of the commodity exchange. (7) A commodity exchange that fails to comply with the Authority’s direction under subsection (5) shall be liable to administrative sanctions under this Act. - 12 Verify source ↗
Compliance with rules by members of commodity exchange
Commodity exchange trading members must follow the exchange rules and ensure their officers and employees do too.
12.–(1) The rules of a commodity exchange shall require that, as a condition of membership, trading members shall comply with the rules of the commodity exchange and the trading members shall be responsible to ensure that its officers and employees comply. (2) Where a person who is under an obligation to comply with, observe, enforce or give effect to the rules fails in performing the duty, the Authority may, after giving that person, an opportunity of being heard, direct that person to perform the duty. (3) For the purpose of subsection (2)- (a) a company that has been admitted as a member and has not been removed from that list of members; (b) a person associated with a member that has been admitted to membership of the commodity exchange and has not been removed from that list of members, is under an obligation to comply with, observe and give effect to the rules of that commodity exchange to the extent to which the rules apply in relation to it or to him. 552 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] PART IV RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LICENCED COMMODITY EXCHANGE Fairness, transparency, prudency and public interest
Part
PART IV
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Fairness, transparency, prudency and public interest
A licensed commodity exchange must ensure fairness, transparency, efficiency, prudent risk management, and compliance with applicable laws.
13. It shall be the duty of a commodity exchange licenced under this Part of the Act to ensure- (a) fairness, transparency and efficiency in the business Caps. 212, 423, 339 and 19 that it carries out; (b) that risks associated with its business and operations are managed prudently; and (c) compliance with the law including this Act, the Companies Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Warehouse Receipt Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other relevant laws. Preserving public interest and compliance of laws and rules - 14 Verify source ↗
Preserving public interest and compliance of laws and rules
A commodity exchange must put market participants’ interests first and follow the rules approved by the Authority.
14.–(1) In discharging its duties under section 13, a commodity exchange shall- (a) have particular regard to the interests of market Standards of practice, disclosure, confidentiality, etc. participants and of the public; and (b) ensure that the interests of market participants prevail where they conflict with the interest of the commodity exchange, its members, shareholders and management. (2) A commodity exchange shall operate its activities in accordance with the rules made under section 8 and approved by the Authority. - 15 Verify source ↗
Standards of practice, disclosure, confidentiality, etc
A licensed commodity exchange must regulate member conduct, keep certain information confidential, publish its rules and charges, and provide fair treatment, conflict management, market monitoring, dispute resolution, and access to its services.
15. A company licenced as a commodity exchange shall- (a) regulate the operations, standards of practice and business conduct of its members and their employees in accordance with the rules approved by the Authority; (b) ensure compliance with continuous disclosure requirements in accordance with the rules, policies, procedures and practices of the exchange; (c) preserve confidentiality with regard to all information in its possession concerning its trading members and their clients, except that such information may be 553 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] disclosed by the commodity exchange when required by the Authority or if it is ordered to do so by the court; (d) publish its rules, fees and charges; (e) give equitable treatment to trading members and potential members; (f) identify and manage conflicts of interest; (g) monitor market activity; (h) provide a means for the resolution of disputes; and (i) provide a robust mechanism for access to the service it provides. Duty to notify Authority on irregularity - 16 Verify source ↗
Duty to notify Authority on irregularity
A commodity exchange must immediately notify the Authority when it becomes aware of a possible irregularity affecting a trading member’s integrity or ability to meet legal obligations.
16. A commodity exchange shall immediately notify the Authority if it becomes aware of any irregularity or other matter which in its opinion, may indicate that the integrity, whether financial or otherwise of a trading member is in question, or that a trading member may not be able to meet its legal obligations. Duty to notify Authority on action taken Duty to maintain premises, personnel, systems, etc. - 17 Verify source ↗
Duty to notify Authority on action taken
A commodity exchange must immediately notify the Authority when it takes any action against a member or a client.
17. A commodity exchange shall immediately notify the Authority of any action taken against a member or a client. - 18 Verify source ↗
Duty to maintain premises, personnel, systems, etc
A commodity exchange must at all times provide and maintain proper premises, competent personnel, and approved systems for its business.
18. A commodity exchange shall at all times provide and maintain- (a) premises with proper equipment; (b) competent personnel; and (c) appropriate systems approved by the Authority with adequate capacity, facilities to meet contingencies or emergencies, security arrangements and technical support, for the conduct of its business. Duty to notify Authority on changes of premises, equipment, etc. - 19 Verify source ↗
Duty to notify Authority on changes of premises, equipment, etc
Before changing the premises or infrastructure, the proposed change must be communicated to the Authority for approval, subject to section 18.
19. Subject to section 18, any proposed changes to be made of the premises or the infrastructure shall be communicated to the Authority for approval prior to such change being implemented. 554 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Assistance to Authority Directives of Authority to commodity exchange Types of directives to be issued by Authority PART V ASSITANCE TO THE AUTHORITY AND DIRECTIVES OF THE AUTHORITY
Part
PART V
- 20 Verify source ↗
Assistance to Authority
A commodity exchange must provide assistance the Authority reasonably requires, including returns, information, documents, or reports.
20. A commodity exchange shall provide such assistance as the Authority may reasonably require, including the furnishing of returns and the provision of information, documents or reports relating to the business of the company or any other specified information for the proper administration of this Act. - 21 Verify source ↗
Directives of Authority to commodity exchange
The Authority may issue written directives to a commodity exchange, and the exchange must comply.
21. The Authority may, if it considers it necessary or expedient- (a) for ensuring fairness, transparency and efficiency of transactions under this Act; (b) for ensuring the integrity of, and proper management of systemic risks in the commodity exchanges trading; (c) for ensuring a fair and proper governance structure of the intermediaries and participants; (d) for the protection of investors; or (e) to meet its objectives under the Act, by notice in writing, issue directives of a general or specific nature to a commodity exchange, and the commodity exchange shall comply with any such directives. - 22 Verify source ↗
Types of directives to be issued by Authority
Directives under section 21 may cover trading, settlement, clearing, commodity contracts, exchange business reporting, removal of certain officers, or other matters needed for administration.
22. The directives issued under section 21 may relate to- (a) the trading, settlement, or clearing or the termination of trading, settlement or clearing on or through the facilities of the commodity exchange as the case may be; (b) any commodity contracts deposited or settled through the facilities of the commodity exchange as the case may be; (c) the manner in which a commodity exchange carries on its business, including the manner of reporting transactions carried out by the commodity exchange; 555 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Censure or removal of officers of commodity exchange for contraventions Penalty for failure to comply with directive of Authority (d) the removal of the Chief Executive Officer or officers from an office of, or employment by a commodity exchange; or (e) any other matter that the Authority considers necessary for the effective administration of this Act. - 23 Verify source ↗
Censure or removal of officers of commodity exchange for contraventions
The Authority may censure an officer of a commodity exchange, or order the exchange to remove the officer, if certain misconduct or compliance failures are found and the officer is heard.
23. The Authority may if it is satisfied that an officer of a commodity exchange- (a) has knowingly contravened this Act or any regulations made thereunder or the rules of the commodity exchange; or (b) has without reasonable justification or excuse, failed to enforce compliance with such provisions by its member or clients or a person associated with that member or client, as the case may be, and if it deems it necessary in the public interest or for the protection of investors, and after giving such officer, an opportunity of being heard, censure the officer of a commodity exchange or direct by notice in writing that the commodity exchange remove from office or employment, the officer, and the commodity exchange shall comply with the directive. - 24 Verify source ↗
Penalty for failure to comply with directive of Authority
A commodity exchange that, without reasonable excuse, ignores a direction under section 21 commits an offence and can be fined. Its directors and officers can also be fined, or imprisoned, unless they prove the breach happened without their knowledge or consent, subject to a further limit where they ought to have known.
24. A commodity exchange which, without reasonable excuse, fails or refuses to comply with a direction given under section 21, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine of not less than five million shillings and in addition, every director and every officer of the commodity exchange who is in such contravention shall be liable to a fine of not less than one million shillings or imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, unless such director or officer proves that such contravention occurred without his knowledge or consent, except that such defence shall not be available, if having regard to the duties of his office, the director or officer ought to have known of the contravention. Appeals against Authority’s directive - 25 Verify source ↗
Appeals against Authority’s directive
A commodity exchange aggrieved by an Authority directive under section 21 may appeal to the Tribunal within 30 days of the directive.
25. A commodity exchange that is aggrieved by any directive of the Authority under section 21 may appeal to the Tribunal within thirty days of the date of the directive. 556 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] PART VI COMMODITY EXCHANGES DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND EMERGENCY POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY Notification of disciplinary action to Authority
Part
PART VI
- 26 Verify source ↗
Notification of disciplinary action to Authority
If a commodity exchange takes disciplinary action under its rules, it must notify the Authority in writing within seven days and explain the nature, reasons, and measures taken.
26. Where a commodity exchange takes any disciplinary action in accordance with its rules, it shall within seven days of taking such action, inform the Authority in writing of the nature, reasons and measures for the action taken. Review, affirmation of disciplinary action by Authority Authority’s intervention where disciplinary action is not taken - 27 Verify source ↗
Review, affirmation of disciplinary action by Authority
The Authority must review disciplinary action taken under section 26 and may affirm, modify, or set aside the decision after hearing the parties concerned.
27. The Authority shall review any disciplinary action taken under section 26 and may affirm, modify or set aside the decision after giving the parties concerned in the dispute an opportunity of being heard. - 28 Verify source ↗
Authority’s intervention where disciplinary action is not taken
The Authority may suspend, expel, or otherwise discipline a member if the commodity exchange does not act against the trading member, but it must first let the member and the commodity exchange be heard.
28. This Part shall not preclude the Authority, in any case where the commodity exchange fails to act against a trading member, from suspending, expelling or otherwise disciplining a member, but before doing so the Authority shall give the member and the commodity exchange an opportunity to be heard. Action by commodity exchange not to prejudice power of Authority - 29 Verify source ↗
Action by commodity exchange not to prejudice power of Authority
An action taken by a commodity exchange under section 26 does not limit the Authority’s power to take further action about the member or the exchange’s licence.
29. Any action taken by a commodity exchange under section 26 shall be without prejudice to the power of the Authority to take such further action as it deems fit with regard to the member or the licence of the commodity exchange. Appeals for disciplinary actions of commodity exchange Cap. 79 Emergency powers of Authority - 30 Verify source ↗
Appeals for disciplinary actions of commodity exchange
A person aggrieved by a commodity exchange decision may appeal to the Authority within 30 days after notification; if the decision was made by the Authority, the appeal goes to the Tribunal.
30. Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of a commodity exchange under this section may, within thirty days after the notification of the decision, appeal to the Authority and where the decision is made by the Authority, the appeal shall lie to the Tribunal established under the Capital Markets and Securities Act. - 31 Verify source ↗
Emergency powers of Authority
The Authority may direct a commodity exchange to take emergency action, and the exchange must comply.
31.–(1) Where the Authority has reason to believe that an emergency exists, or where the Authority considers it necessary or expedient for the protection of market participants or to 557 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] meet its objectives under the Act and maintain or restore fairness, transparency and efficiency in the transaction carried out by a commodity exchange the Authority may, by notice in writing, direct the commodity exchange to take such action as it considers necessary to- (a) liquidate any position in respect of any commodity contracts; (b) maintain or restore fairness, transparency and efficiency in the transactions carried out by the company; or (c) liquidate any position in respect of any commodity contracts, including- (i) terminating or suspending any transaction; (ii) confining trading to liquidation of commodity contract positions; (iii) ordering the liquidation of all positions or part thereof or the reduction in such positions; (d) limiting trading to a specific price range; (e) modifying trading days or hours; (f) altering conditions of delivery; (g) fixing the settlement price at which positions are to be liquidated; (h) requiring any person to act in a specified manner in relation to trading in commodities or any class thereof; (i) requiring margins or additional margins for any commodity contract or any class thereof; and (j) modifying or suspending any of the rules of the company, and the commodity exchange shall comply with that direction. (2) In this Part, “emergency” means- (a) an act of government affecting commodity contracts; (b) any other major market disturbance which prevents the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand of commodity contracts; (c) a threatened or actual market manipulation; or (d) any other situation or practice which in the opinion of the Authority constitutes an emergency. 558 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (3) Where the Authority suspends trading under subsection (1)(c)(i), the suspension shall be for a period not exceeding three months. (4) Where a commodity exchange fails to comply with a direction of the Authority under subsection (1), within such time as is specified by the Authority the Authority may- (a) set emergency margin levels in any contract or any class thereof; (b) set limits that may apply to market positions acquired in good faith prior to the date of the Authority’s direction; or (c) take such other action as the Authority considers necessary to maintain or restore orderly trading in any contract or any class thereof. Penalty for non-compliance with Authority’s emergency directives - 32 Verify source ↗
Penalty for non-compliance with Authority’s emergency directives
A commodity exchange that disobeys the Authority’s section 31 directives commits an offence, and the Authority may impose administrative sanctions and, for continued non-compliance, a daily fine.
32.–(1) A commodity exchange that fails to comply with the directives of the Authority issued under section 31, commits an offence and the Authority may, depending on the gravity or the consequence of such failure, impose any of the following administrative sanctions: (a) warning or caution not to repeat the conduct which led to non-compliance; (b) a reprimand; (c) directive to take remedial action or to make specific arrangement to remedy the default; (d) restrict or suspend certain business activities; (e) suspend a licence; or (f) suspend or remove from office any member of staff who caused the failure to comply. (2) Before imposing an administrative sanction, the Authority shall give the defaulting person a notice in writing of the- (a) nature of the alleged non-compliance; (b) intention to impose administrative sanction; and (c) amount or particulars of the intended administrative sanction. 559 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (3) The defaulting person may, in writing, within a period specified in the notice, make representations as to why the administrative sanctions should not be imposed. (4) When determining an appropriate administrative sanction, the Authority shall consider the following: (a) the nature, duration, seriousness and extent of the default; (b) whether the defaulting person has previously failed to comply with any written laws; and (c) any remedial steps taken against by the defaulting person to prevent a recurrence. (5) Where the Authority has imposed sanctions under this section, and the defaulting person fails to comply with such sanctions, the Authority shall impose a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings per day for which a default continues to be committed. (6) Where an offence under this Act or under any regulation made by the Authority under this Act is proved to have been committed by a commodity exchange with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of an officer of the commodity exchange, that officer as well as the commodity exchange shall be liable for that offence. (7) In this section “officer” means a director, shadow director, member of the committee or management, chief executive, manager, secretary, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity. PART VII REVOCATION OF COMMODITY EXCHANGE’S LICENCES Written notice of revocation
Part
PART VII
- 33 Verify source ↗
Written notice of revocation
The Authority may revoke a commodity exchange licence by written notice.
33.–(1) The Authority may, by notice in writing served on a commodity exchange, revoke a licence granted under this Act if the commodity exchange- (a) fails to operate in accordance with the conditions of the licence; 560 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) ceases to operate the business for which the licence was granted; (c) ceases to have in place satisfactory facilities for the business of commodity exchange operations; (d) is being wound up; (e) fails to comply with a directive of the Authority; (f) fails to provide the Authority with information required or provides false or misleading information; (g) is operating in a manner detrimental to the interests of commodity market; or (h) requests the Authority to do so. Deemed cessation of operations of commodity exchange - 34 Verify source ↗
Deemed cessation of operations of commodity exchange
A commodity exchange is treated as having ceased operating if it stops business for more than 30 days without prior written approval, or if it stops under an Authority direction.
34.–(1) For the purpose of this Part a commodity exchange shall be deemed to have ceased to operate if- (a) it has ceased to operate its business for more than thirty days unless it has obtained the prior written approval of the Authority to do so; or (b) it has ceased to operate under a direction issued by the Authority. (2) The Authority may, by the notice served under subsection (1), permit a commodity exchange to continue, on or after the date on which the revocation is to take effect, to carry on such activities affected by the revocation as the Authority may specify in the notice for the purpose of- (a) closing down the operations of the commodity exchange; and (b) protecting the interests of investors. (3) The Authority shall, before revoking a licence, afford the commodity exchange an opportunity of being heard. (4) The provisions of subsection (3) shall not apply to a commodity exchange revoked in accordance with section 33(1)(h). (5) Where the Authority revokes the licence of a commodity exchange under this section, it shall cause notice of the revocation to be published in a newspaper of wide circulation. 561 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Effect of revocation on transactions, agreements, etc. - 35 Verify source ↗
Effect of revocation on transactions, agreements, etc
Revoking a licence under this Part does not affect commodity-contract agreements, transactions, or arrangements made by the commodity exchange.
35. A revocation of licence pursuant to the provisions of this Part, shall not affect the execution of any agreement, transaction or arrangement relating to trading in commodity contracts entered into by the commodity exchange where the agreement, transaction or arrangement was entered into before or after the revocation of the licence, and includes any right, obligation or liability arising under such agreement, transaction or arrangement. Approval of contracts by Authority PART VIII APPROVAL OF COMMODITY CONTRACT, WITHDRAWAL AND FIXING OF POSITIONS AND TRADING LIMITS
Part
PART VIII
- 36 Verify source ↗
Approval of contracts by Authority
A commodity exchange may not let commodity contract trading happen unless the Authority has approved the contract.
36.–(1) A commodity exchange shall not permit the trading of any commodity contract on a commodity market established or operated by the commodity exchange unless the contract has been approved by the Authority. (2) The Authority shall not approve a contract unless- (a) it contains all information as investors and their advisors and their professional advisors would reasonably expect to find for the purpose of making an informed assessment of the commodity and the right and liabilities; (b) it contains such other information and particulars as may be prescribed by regulations made under this Act. (3) The Authority may require an application for approval of a commodity contract to be accompanied by an expert opinion regarding any of the information contained in the contract. (4) The Authority may take into account any other matter that it deems relevant in approving a contract. (5) The Authority may grant approval for the trading of any commodity contract on the commodity market established or operated by the commodity exchange subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Authority may consider appropriate. 562 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Fixing of position and trading limits in commodity contracts (6) The Authority may, by notice in writing served on the commodity exchange, withdraw its permission given under subsection (1) with effect from the date specified in the notice where- (a) the commodity exchange fails to comply with a condition or restriction imposed under subsection (5); or (b) the Authority considers it would be contrary to the interests of the investing public to permit trading in that commodity contract to continue. (7) The Authority shall not withdraw its permission under subsection (3) without first giving the commodity exchange an opportunity of being heard. - 37 Verify source ↗
Fixing of position and trading limits in commodity contracts
The Authority may set trading and position limits for commodity contracts, and persons must not exceed those limits.
37.–(1) For the purpose of diminishing, eliminating or preventing excessive speculation in any commodity under a commodity contract, the Authority may, by notice in writing, fix limits as it considers necessary on the amount of trading or positions which may be held by any person, generally or specifically, under a commodity contract traded on a commodity exchange. (2) Any limits upon positions and trading shall apply to positions held by, and trading done, by two or more persons acting pursuant to an express or implied agreement or understanding, as if the positions were held by, or the trading done by, a single person. (3) A person shall not directly or indirectly- (a) buy or sell or agree to buy or sell a commodity contract, or any number of such contracts, on a commodity exchange, in excess of the trading limits fixed for one business day, or any other stated period set by the Authority, or by a commodity exchange with the approval of the Authority; or (b) hold or control a net buy or sell position under a commodity contract traded on the commodity market of or subject to the rules of a commodity exchange in 563 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Licensing requirements excess of any position limit fixed by the Authority, or by a commodity exchange with the approval of the Authority. (3) This section shall not preclude the Authority from- (a) fixing different trading or position limits for different commodity contracts, different delivery months, or for different days remaining until the last day of trading in a commodity contract; or (b) exempting transactions under this section. PART IX LICENSING OF COMMODITY MARKET INTERMEDIARIES
Part
PART IX
- 38 Verify source ↗
Licensing requirements
Most commodity exchange business and related representative activity may be carried on only under the relevant licence granted by the Authority.
38.–(1) A person, whether as principal or agent, shall not carry on commodity exchange business as a commodity dealer or commodity broker, or hold himself out as carrying on such a business, except under and in accordance with a commodity dealer’s licence or commodity broker licence granted by the Authority under this Part. (2) A person shall not carry on commodity exchange business as a commodity trading adviser, or hold himself out as carrying on such a business, except under and in accordance with a commodity trading adviser’s licence granted by the Authority under this Part. (3) A person shall not act as, or hold himself out as, a representative of a commodity dealer or commodity broker except under and in accordance with a commodity dealer’s representative’s or commodity broker representative licence granted by the Authority under this Part. (4) A person shall not act as, or hold himself out as, a representative of a commodity trading adviser except under and in accordance with a commodity trading adviser’s representative’s licence granted by the Authority under this Part. 564 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (5) A commodity dealer’s licence or commodity brokers may be granted only to a company. (6) A representative’s licence may be granted only to an individual. (7) A representative shall not be licenced unless he is accredited to a principal. (8) A company which is licensed under this Part as a commodity dealer or commodity trading adviser shall at all times employ at least one individual who is licensed as a representative under this Part. (9) A company that is licenced under this Part as a commodity dealer or commodity trading adviser shall be exclusively engaged in that commodity business except only in respect of such other matters as are ancillary or incidental to its commodity business or otherwise may be expressly permitted by the Authority. (10) In the case of a bank, a commodity dealer’s licence shall be granted only to a subsidiary incorporated by the bank for such purpose. - 39 Verify source ↗
Accreditation of representatives
A representative is accredited to a principal only if the licence says so, and the Authority cannot issue the licence unless both sides have notified it in writing. If accreditation ends, the principal must notify and publish notice, the representative must return the licence within 7 days, and the Authority must update its register.
39.–(1) A representative is accredited to a principal for purposes of this Act only if the licence of the representative states that he is accredited to the principal. (2) The Authority shall not issue a representative’s licence unless both the representative and the principal have notified the Authority in writing that he is, or is to be, accredited. (3) Where the accreditation of the representative has been terminated whether by the principal or the representative- (a) the principal shall immediately notify the Authority in writing of such termination; (b) the principal shall publish in a daily newspaper a notice advising of such termination; (c) the representative shall return his licence to the Authority within seven days from the date of termination; and (d) the Authority shall amend its register of market intermediaries accordingly. 565 Accreditation of representatives ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Application for licence - 40 Verify source ↗
Application for licence
A licence applicant must use the prescribed form, pay the prescribed fee, and provide enough information for the Authority to assess fitness and properness. The Authority may also ask the applicant or related persons for more information.
40.–(1) An application for a licence under this Part shall- (a) be made to the Authority in the prescribed form and manner; (b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee; (c) provide the Authority with sufficient information about the- (i) services which the applicant shall hold himself out as being able to provide if the licence is granted; (ii) business which the applicant proposes to carry on and to which the application relates, and about any person whom the applicant proposes to employ or with whom the applicant intends to be associated in the course of carrying on the business; (iii) applicant’s shareholders and governance structure; (iv) applicant’s internal organisation structure and (v) operational systems; individuals whom the applicant proposes to direct and manage the business or whom the applicant otherwise intends to be associated with in the course of carrying on its business; and (vi) location of all premises at which the records or other documents of the business in respect of which the application is made are to be kept, so as to enable the Authority to consider the applicant’s fitness and properness. (2) The Authority may require an applicant, and any other person associated with the application, to provide further information as the Authority considers necessary. Grant or refusal of licence - 41 Verify source ↗
Grant or refusal of licence
The Authority may approve or refuse a licence application, but must grant the licence if the applicant meets the listed conditions.
41.–(1) The Authority may, on an application duly made in accordance with section 40, approve or decline to grant a licence. (2) The Authority shall grant a licence where it is satisfied that the applicant- (a) is a fit and proper person to be licensed in respect of the regulated activity; 566 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Cap. 212 (b) is duly incorporated as a company or in the case of a foreign company, is in compliance with the registration requirements the Companies Act and meets criteria for licensing foreign companies; foreign Companies under for (c) shall employ at least one representative who is fit and proper; (d) shall establish adequate policies and procedures to ensure compliance by its managers and employees with the obligations under this Act; (e) shall maintain and operate effective organisational and administrative requirements with a view to taking all reasonable steps to prevent conflicts of interest from adversely affecting the interests of its clients; (f) shall take all reasonable steps to ensure continuity and regularity in the performance of its regulated activity and in particular will employ appropriate and proportionate systems, personnel, resources and procedures; (g) has sound administrative and accounting procedures, internal control mechanisms, effective procedures for risk assessment, and effective control and safeguard arrangements for information processing systems; (h) has money laundering prevention and detection manuals and policies for conducting customers due diligence and reporting of suspicious transactions to the Authority and to the Financial Intelligence Unit; including, procedures (i) has arrangements for records to be kept of all services and transactions undertaken which shall be sufficient to enable the Authority to monitor compliance with the requirements of this Act, and in particular to ascertain that the regulated person has complied with all obligations with respect to clients and potential clients; 567 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (j) when holding clients’ property, shall make adequate arrangements to safeguard clients’ ownership rights, especially in the event of its insolvency, and to prevent the use of a clients’ property on own account except with the client’s express consent; (k) when holding clients’ funds, shall make adequate arrangements to safeguard the client’s rights and to prevent the use of clients’ funds for its own use; (l) has, and is able to maintain, the minimum paid up capital prescribed having regard to the nature and type of regulated activity to be provided; (m) has specified premises under section 40(1)(c)(iv) that are suitable for keeping records or other documents; and (n) satisfies such other conditions as may be imposed or prescribed by the Authority. (3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a license granted under this section shall be for a period of one year and may be renewed for further period of one year provided that, the market intermediary pays the prescribed annual licence fee on or before the anniversary of the date of the grant of such licence and meets other licensing requirements. (4) Where the Authority declines to grant a licence, it shall provide reasons for its decision and shall afford the applicant concerned a right to be heard before a final decision is made. - 42 Verify source ↗
Criteria for licensing of foreign companies
The Authority may allow a foreign registered company to carry out commodity exchange activities if the listed licensing and supervision conditions are met.
42. The Authority may authorise a foreign registered company to carry out commodity exchange related activities if- (a) it establishes a subsidiary or a branch office in Tanzania and has sufficient capital in compliance with the requirements of the law to enable the company to operate in Tanzania; (b) the Authority recognises the law of the country of origin relating to the regulation of the activity for which a licence is being sought as being of similar import to the law in Tanzania; 568 Criteria for licensing of foreign companies ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (c) the intermediary or the activity for which a licence is sought subject to effective licensing process as well as effective regulatory supervision and enforcement procedures in the country of origin and that the country of origin or the applicant is not listed on the Financial Action Task Force list of non-cooperative countries; (d) an agreement has been concluded on cooperation in information sharing, investigation and enforcement actions between the supervisory authorities of the country of origin and the Authority which at the minimum shall cover- (i) mechanism for exchange of information between the Authority and the other regulators; (ii) granting access to all information on the foreign company’s approved services that is required by the Authority; (iii) the process for immediate reporting to the Authority of all violations by the applicant in the country of origin; (iv) the process for coordinating the supervision activities including on sight-inspections where necessary; (e) in the case of a foreign company which is a commodity exchange that the dealers or brokers of the said commodities exchange is connected to an investor compensation scheme. Licensing of representatives - 43 Verify source ↗
Licensing of representatives
The Authority may grant a representative’s licence to a natural person who applies and pays the prescribed fee, and must grant it if the applicant meets the stated fit-and-proper, training/examination, and appointment requirements.
43.–(1) The Authority may, upon application by a natural person and on the payment of the prescribed fee, grant a representative’s licence to an individual to carry on one or more activity specified in the licence. (2) The Authority shall grant a representative’s licence where it is satisfied that the applicant- (a) is a fit and proper person for the licence applied for or which is the subject of the application; 569 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) has passed an examination or undertaken such training as may be required or recognised by the Authority; and (c) is appointed by the regulated person. Authority may impose conditions - 44 Verify source ↗
Authority may impose conditions
The Authority may grant licences with conditions or restrictions, and may later change, revoke, or add conditions by written notice to the licence holder.
44.–(1) The Authority may grant a licence under this Part subject to such conditions or restrictions as it considers necessary. (2) The Authority may, by written notice served on the holder of the licence, amend or revoke any of the conditions or attach new conditions. Authority may issue directives - 45 Verify source ↗
Authority may issue directives
The Authority may give written directives to a licensed person, and the licensed person must comply.
45.–(1) The Authority may, by notice in writing, give a licensed person directives under this section where it appears to the Authority that- (a) it is desirable for the protection of commodity market participants; (b) the licensed person has contravened or is about to contravene, or has failed to comply with any provision or requirement under this Act or, in purported compliance with any such provision or requirement has furnished the Authority with information that is false, inaccurate or misleading; or (c) the licensed person has engaged in any activity contrary to the interests of the commodity market its participants and buyer, seller or investors. (2) A direction under this section may contain all or any of the following prohibitions or requirements-: (a) cease and desist from the contravention of any activity; (b) removal of a person from office or employment of the licensed person; (c) from entering into transactions of a class or description specified in the notice or entering into them otherwise than in circumstances so specified or to an extent so specified; (d) from soliciting business from any specified person or a person of a class or description so specified or from persons other than persons of such a class or description; 570 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (e) from carrying on business in a specified manner or otherwise than in a specified manner; and (f) to comply with any matter as the Authority considers necessary for the protection of investors, and the licensed person shall comply with such prohibition or requirement. (3) A prohibition or requirement under this section shall be for a specified period as the Authority may consider necessary and the period may be extended by the Authority as the Authority deems fit. (4) The Authority may, by written notice, either on its own motion or on the application of the licensed person on whom a prohibition or requirement has been imposed under this section, rescind or vary the prohibition or requirement if it appears to the Authority that it is no longer necessary for the prohibition or requirement to take effect or continue in force or, as the case may be, that it should take effect or continue in force in a different form. (5) Where the Authority proposes to give a direction under subsection (1), or refuses to vary or rescind the direction under subsection (4), the Authority shall give reasons for its decision and shall give the person concerned a right to be heard before a final decision is made. (6) Subsection (5) shall not apply where the Authority determines that it is necessary or expedient to meet its objectives that the direction should take effect without delay, in which case, the reasons for the direction shall be furnished and the opportunity to be heard shall be afforded as soon as is reasonably practicable after the direction has taken effect. Authority to suspend or revoke licence - 46 Verify source ↗
Authority to suspend or revoke licence
The Authority may suspend or revoke a licence for listed compliance and conduct failures, and must revoke it in certain serious cases.
46.–(1) The Authority may suspend or revoke a licence under this part where- (a) it has reason to believe that the licensee, or any of its directors or employees has not performed his duties honestly and fairly; 571 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) the licensee fails to employ the minimum number of licenced representatives required; (c) the licensee contravenes or fails to comply with any condition of the licence; (d) the licensee is in breach of this Act or regulations made under this Act; (e) the licensee fails to comply with a direction of the Authority; (f) the licensee fails to pay the prescribed annual fee for a period of two consecutive months following the required date of payment; (g) the licensee submits a request in writing to the Authority; (h) the licensee fails to provide the Authority with information required, or provides false or misleading information; (2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), the Authority shall revoke a licence where the licensee- (a) is no longer fit and proper to hold a licence; (b) goes into liquidation, is wound up or is subject to winding up; (c) fails to pay the prescribed annual fee for a period of thirty consecutive days following the specified date of payment; or (d) ceases to carry on the business for which it is licensed. (3) Where the Authority suspends a licence under this section, the suspension shall be for a period not exceeding three months and the Authority may, if it considers it necessary, extend the suspension for a further period not exceeding three months at the expiry of which the Authority shall either lift the suspension, or revoke the licence as it deems appropriate. (4) For purposes of this Part, a person shall be deemed to have ceased to carry on the business for which the licence is issued where he ceases to carry on the business for more than thirty days without the prior approval of the Authority. 572 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Effect of revocation or suspension (5) The Authority shall, where it suspends or revokes the licence, cause a notice of the said suspension or revocation to be issued to the public through the media. - 47 Verify source ↗
Effect of revocation or suspension
If a licence is revoked or suspended, existing exchange agreements and related rights and liabilities are not affected. The Authority may also give written notice requiring the licensee to transfer client-related records or allowing limited business operations after revocation or suspension.
47.–(1) The revocation or suspension of a licence under this Act shall not operate so as to- (a) avoid or affect an agreement, transaction or arrangement entered into by the licensee on any exchange where the agreement, transaction or arrangement was entered into before the revocation or suspension; and (b) affect a right, obligation or liability arising under the agreement, transaction or arrangement. (2) Where a licence is revoked or suspended under this Part, the Authority may by notice in writing and subject to such conditions as the Authority may specify in the notice- (a) require the licensee to transfer to, or to the order of, its client such records relating to client property or to the affairs of the client held at any time for the client, in such manner, as the Authority may specify in the notice; or (b) permit the licensee to: (i) (ii) in the case of a revocation, carry on business operations for the purpose of closing down the business connected with the revocation; or in the case of a suspension, carry on only essential business operations for the protection of interests of clients during the period of suspension. Statutory management - 48 Verify source ↗
Statutory management
The Authority may place a defaulting licensee under statutory management and appoint a statutory manager, but it must first give the licensee a chance to be heard.
48.–(1) The Authority may, subject to subsection (2), place a defaulting licensee under statutory management where- (a) the defaulting person’s licence is suspended or revoked under this Act; (b) a petition is filed, or a resolution made, for the winding up of a licensee, or where any receiver or receiver manager or similar officer is appointed in respect of all or any part of its assets; or 573 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (c) the Authority discovers, whether on an inspection, investigation or otherwise any fact or circumstance which, in the opinion of the Authority, warrants placing of a licensee under statutory management. (2) The Authority shall give the defaulting licensee an opportunity to be heard prior to the exercise of the powers under this section. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law, in any case to which this section applies, the Authority may- (a) appoint any competent person or persons in this Act referred to as “a statutory manager” to assume the management, control and conduct of the affairs and business of a defaulting licensee to exercise all the powers of a licensee to the exclusion of its board of directors, including the use of its corporate seal; (b) remove any officer or employee of the defaulting licensee who, in the opinion of the Authority, has caused or contributed to any contravention of any provision of this Act, or to any deterioration in the financial stability of the defaulting licensee or has been guilty of a conduct detrimental to the interests of commodity exchange participants or buyer, seller or investors; (c) appoint a competent person familiar with the business of the defaulting licensee to its board of directors to hold office as a director who shall not be capable of being removed from that office without the approval of the Authority; (d) by notice in the Gazette, revoke or cancel any existing power of attorney, mandate, appointment or other authority of the defaulting licensee in favour of any officer or employee or any other person. (4) The appointment of a statutory manager shall be for such period as the Authority shall specify in the instrument of appointment save that, in any case, the period referred to in this subsection, shall not exceed six months and may be extended by the Tribunal upon the application of the Authority if such extension appears to the Tribunal to be justified and any such extension shall be notified to all interested parties. 574 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (5) A statutory manager shall, upon assuming the management, control and conduct of the affairs and business of a licensee, discharge his duties with diligence and in accordance with sound investment and financial principles and in particular, with due regard to the interests of the defaulting licensee’s customers or investors. (6) The responsibilities of the statutory manager appointed by the Authority under this part in relation to a defaulting licensee shall include- (a) tracing and preserving all the property and assets of the said defaulting licensee or of its clients; (b) recovering all debts and other sums of money due to and owing to the defaulting licensee; (c) evaluating the capital structure and management of the licensee and recommending to the Authority any restructuring or re-organisation which he considers necessary and which, subject to the provisions of any other written law, may be implemented by him on behalf of the defaulting licensee; (d) entering into contracts in the ordinary course of the business of the defaulting licensee; and (e) obtaining from any officers or employees of the defaulting licensee any documents, records, accounts, statements or information relating to its business. (7) For purposes of discharging its responsibilities, a statutory manager shall declare a moratorium on the payment by the defaulting licensee to its creditors and the declaration of a moratorium shall- (a) be applied equally and without discrimination to all classes of creditors and the statutory manager may offset the liabilities owed by the defaulting licensee to any creditor against any debts owed by that creditor to the defaulting licensee; and (b) suspend the running of time for purposes of any law of limitation of actions in respect of any claim by a creditor of the defaulting licensee. 575 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (8) A moratorium shall cease to apply upon the termination of the statutory manager’s appointment whereupon the rights and obligations of the defaulting licensee and its creditors shall, save to the extent provided in subsection (6)(b), be the same as if there had been no declaration under the provisions of that subsection. (9) A moratorium declared by the statutory manager shall not exceed six months. (10) The statutory manager shall, in every month, submit to the Authority and all interested parties a report of his activities undertaken during the preceding month, in such form as may be specified by the Authority. (11) Any officer or employee of the defaulting licensee removed under the provisions of subsection 3(b) may appeal to the Tribunal, and the Tribunal may confirm, reverse or modify the decision and make any other order in the circumstances as it deems just; and pending the determination of the appeal or any appeal on the decision of the Tribunal, the order of removal shall remain in effect. (12) A statutory manager or any other person appointed, designated or approved by the Authority under this Act shall not be liable in respect of any act or omission done in good faith by such manager or person in the execution of the duties undertaken by him. (13) Where it appears to the statutory manager that it is just and equitable to do so in the interest of all interested parties, the statutory manager may after consultation with the Authority, petition to the High Court for the winding up of the defaulting licensee. (14) All costs and expenses properly incurred by the statutory manager shall be payable out of the assets of the defaulting licensee shall be given priority over all other claims. Register of licensees - 49 Verify source ↗
Register of licensees
The Authority must keep a register of licensees and make it open to public inspection on payment of a prescribed fee.
49.–(1) The Authority shall maintain a register of licensees in the form it considers appropriate. 576 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (2) The register shall, for each licenced person, record- (a) the name and address of the regulated person; (b) the date on which the licence was granted; (c) the type of regulated activity permitted by the licence; (d) any conditions attached to the licence; (e) the name and address of every director, manager and officer, secretary of the company, and the names and respective shareholdings of each shareholder; (f) the name and address of every representative; (g) the location of the premises at which the records or other documents of the regulated person are kept; (h) any order of revocation or suspension; and (i) such other particulars as the Authority considers necessary in the interest of the investors or general public. (3) The register shall, for each licensee, contain a record of- (a) the name and address; (b) the date on which the licence was granted; (c) the name and address of the principal; and (d) such other particulars as the Authority may consider desirable. (4) The register shall, subject to the payment of a prescribed fee, be open for inspection by members of the public, during usual office hours. Notice of cessation or change of business - 50 Verify source ↗
Notice of cessation or change of business
A licensee must give the Authority written notice as soon as practicable, and no later than 7 days, if the licensee stops carrying on the licensed business or if required particulars change.
50. A licensee shall as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days, give to the Authority notice in writing where- (a) he ceases to carry on the business to which he is licensed for; or (b) a change occurs in any matter particulars required under section 40. 577 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] PART X CONDUCT OF BUSINESS Standards of conduct
Part
PART X
- 51 Verify source ↗
Standards of conduct
A licensee must follow best practice and meet standards for integrity, skill, client treatment, recordkeeping, compliance, financial resources, and cooperation with the Authority.
51. A licensee shall at all times act according to the principles of best practice and, in particular, shall- (a) observe high standards of integrity and fair dealing; (b) act with due skill, care and diligence; (c) observe high standards of market conduct; its clients (d) seek their circumstances and investment objectives which might reasonably be expected to be relevant in enabling the licensee to fulfil its responsibilities to the client; information about from (e) take reasonable steps to give every client that the licensee advises, any in a comprehensible manner to enable the client to make an informed investment decision; information needed (f) avoid any conflict of interest with clients and, where such a conflict unavoidably arises, to ensure fair treatment to the client by complete disclosure or by declining to act; furthermore the interests of the market intermediary should never be unfairly placed above those of the client; (g) protect properly, by way of segregation and identification, those client assets for which the licensee is responsible; (h) maintain adequate financial resources to meet its commodity exchange business commitments and withstand the risks to which the business is subject; (i) organise and control its internal affairs in a responsible manner; (j) keep proper records; (k) have adequate arrangements to ensure that all staff employed are suitable, adequately trained and properly supervised, together with well-defined compliance procedures; and 578 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Business conduct regulations (l) deal with the Authority in an open and co-operative manner and keep the Authority informed of anything concerning the licensee that might reasonably be expected to be disclosed. - 52 Verify source ↗
Business conduct regulations
The Authority may make regulations about commodity exchange business conduct, including rules for market intermediaries.
52.–(1) Without prejudice to section 51, the Authority may make regulations on the conduct of commodity exchange business requiring market intermediaries to comply with such practices and standards relating to their conduct in carrying on the commodity exchange business for which they are licenced. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may make regulations for or with respect to- (a) contract notes; (b) client agreements; (c) risk disclosure statements; (d) the use of misleading or deceptive advertisements by or on behalf of a market intermediary; (e) the disclosure to a client of the financial risks in respect of trading commodity contracts recommended by the market intermediary to the client; (f) the avoidance of any conflict of interest between the market intermediary and a client; (g) recommendations made; (h) the priority to be given to client’s orders; (i) trading against a client; (j) cross trading; and (k) any other matter relating to the practices and standards of conduct required of a market intermediary in conducting the commodity business for which he is licenced. Risk disclosure - 53 Verify source ↗
Risk disclosure
A commodity exchange broker or dealer must not open a client commodity trading account unless the client gets a separate written risk disclosure statement and returns a signed, dated acknowledgement.
53. A commodity exchange broker or dealer shall not open a commodity trading account for a client unless he- (a) furnishes the client with a separate written risk disclosure statement which shall be in such form and contain such information as may be prescribed; and 579 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) receives from the client an acknowledgement signed and dated by the client that he has received and understood the nature and contents of the risk disclosure statement. Client agreement - 54 Verify source ↗
Client agreement
A licensee must not act for a client unless it does so in line with the client agreement, and the Authority may prescribe required matters in regulations.
54. A licensee shall not act for any client otherwise than in accordance with the terms of a client agreement which shall contain such matters as may be prescribed in the regulations made by the Authority. Issue of contract confirmation note - 55 Verify source ↗
Issue of contract confirmation note
A commodity exchange broker or dealer must give clients a written confirmation of each commodity contract within two business days after a commodity exchange transaction.
55.–(1) A commodity exchange broker or dealer shall, not later than two business days after any commodity exchange transaction, furnish to its clients a written confirmation of each commodity contract executed on behalf of that client. (2) A contract confirmation note shall include such information as may be prescribed in the regulations by the Authority. Maintenance of books of accounts and record PART XI ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT (a) Accounts and Audit of Commodity Exchanges
Part
PART XI
- 56 Verify source ↗
Maintenance of books of accounts and record
A commodity exchange must keep proper books and records, prepare annual financial statements, have them audited, and send the auditors’ report and statements to the Authority.
56.–(1) A commodity exchange shall keep proper books of accounts and records of its income and expenditure, assets and liabilities and all other transactions of the commodity exchange. (2) The commodity exchange shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare financial statements of the commodity exchange for the financial year in accordance with financial reporting standards prescribed by the National Board of Accountants and Auditors. (3) The commodity exchange shall, within one month after the end of each of its financial year, submit the financial statements prepared for the financial year under subsection (2) to its auditors for audit. 580 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (4) The auditors shall prepare a report on the accounts and send the report to the commodity exchange which shall forthwith after its receipt send a copy of the report and a copy of the financial statements to the Authority. (5) The auditors shall include in their report- (a) a statement whether, in their opinion, a statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the financial year to which the report relates gives a true and fair view of the commodity exchange’s performance in terms of net profit or loss; (b) a statement whether, in their opinion, a statement of financial position for the financial year gives a true and fair view of the commodity exchange’s financial position at the end of that financial year. (6) The auditors shall have a right of access at all reasonable times to the books, accounts, vouchers and other records of the commodity exchange and are entitled to require from officers of the commodity exchange such information and explanations as they consider necessary for the performance of their duties as auditor. - 57 Verify source ↗
Authority may appoint auditor
The Authority may appoint an auditor in writing if it is satisfied that doing so is in the public interest.
57. Where the Authority is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, it may appoint in writing an auditor at the expense of the commodity exchange to examine, audit, and report, either generally or in relation to any matter, on the books, accounts and records of a commodity exchange. - 58 Verify source ↗
Annual Report
A commodity exchange must file an annual report with the Authority within three months after its financial year ends, and may need to attach additional information and an audit report.
58.–(1) A commodity exchange shall, within three months after the end of its financial year, give to the Authority an annual report that includes- (a) a description of the activities undertaken by the commodity exchange in the financial year; (b) the resources including financial, technological and human resources that the commodity exchange had available, and used, in order to ensure compliance with its obligations and, in particular, its obligation to 581 Authority may appoint auditor Annual Report ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] ensure that the commodity market of the commodity exchange operates in a fair, orderly and transparent manner; and (c) an analysis of the extent to which the commodity exchange considers that the activities undertaken, and resources used, have resulted in full compliance with all of its obligations under this Act, regulations and the rules of the commodity exchange. (2) The commodity exchange shall ensure that the annual report is accompanied by such other information and statements as may be specified by the Authority. (3) The annual report shall be accompanied by an audit report where required by the Authority under subsection (4). (4) The Authority may, by giving written notice to a commodity exchange, require the commodity exchange to obtain an audit report by a person to be approved by the Authority on the annual report and on any information or statements accompanying it. (b) Accounts and Audit of Market Intermediaries - 59 Verify source ↗
Accounts and records to be kept
A market intermediary other than a representative must keep and preserve accounting and other records, update them continuously, and make them available for inspection.
59.–(1) A market intermediary other than a representative, shall keep such accounting and other records as shall sufficiently show and explain the transactions whether effected on its own behalf or on behalf of others and financial position of its commodity business and shall be such as to- (a) disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, its financial position at that time; (b) enable it to prepare a true and fair statement of financial position and profit or loss and other comprehensive income account and statement of financial position as at any time; and (c) demonstrate whether it is maintaining in its commodity business adequate financial resources to meet its business requirements and withstand the risks to which its business is subject. 582 Accounts and records to be kept ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Client assets (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), such accounts and other records shall be maintained as may be prescribed. (3) The obligations under this Act are continuing obligations and continuous performance of them is required so as to ensure that records are periodically updated. (4) Information required by this Act shall- (a) be recorded in such a way as to enable a particular trade to be identified at any time and traced through from initiation to of the order to final settlement; and (b) be arranged, filed, indexed and cross-referenced so as to permit access to any particular record. (5) The accounting and other records required to be maintained under this section shall be preserved by the market intermediary for a period of not less than five years from the date on which they are made, and shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by the Authority or by an auditor appointed by the Authority. - 60 Verify source ↗
Client assets
Commodity exchange brokers or dealers must treat client assets as belonging to the client, keep them in a separate trust account, and segregate them from the broker’s funds.
60.–(1) For the purpose of this Act, “client assets” means money received or retained by, or any other property deposited with, a market intermediary in the course of his business for which he is liable to account to his client, and any money or other property accruing therefrom. (2) A commodity exchange broker or dealer shall- (a) treat and deal with all client assets received by him from a client to margin, guarantee or secure contracts in commodity exchange trading, or accruing to a client as a result of such trading, as belonging to that client; (b) deposit in a separate account, designated as a trust account or evidenced as such, for all the client assets received from the client or accruing to the client pursuant to paragraph (a); and (c) segregate those client assets from the funds of the commodity exchange broker or dealer. 583 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (3) Without prejudice to section 53, the Authority may make regulations with respect to the segregation and safekeeping of client assets that a market intermediary holds on behalf of a client. (4) Without limiting the generality of subsection (3), regulations may- (a) require client money to be paid forthwith into segregated bank accounts established for client money and designated as trust accounts or client accounts; (b) make provision with respect to the opening and keeping of bank accounts and specify when and how client money is to be paid into such accounts and require it to be dealt with, and accounted for, in the specified manner; (c) require the maintenance of records in relation to such accounts in the specified manner; (d) require the submission to the Authority, upon request or at specified intervals, records and documents of specified information for the purpose of enabling the Authority to ascertain readily whether the regulations are being complied with; and (e) provide for any other matter relating to client assets. (5) Except as provided in the regulations, client assets held by a market intermediary on account of a client shall not be available for payment of the debts of the market intermediary or liable to be paid or taken in execution under the order or process of the Court against the market intermediary. (6) A payment made in contravention of subsection (5) is void from the outset, and a person to whom the money is paid does not obtain any title to it. Appointment of auditors - 61 Verify source ↗
Appointment of auditors
A market intermediary (other than a representative) must appoint an external auditor within one month after getting a licence, and must notify the Authority within seven days when an auditor is appointed, removed, or resigns.
61.–(1) Within one month after being granted a licence under this Act a market intermediary other than a representative shall appoint an external auditor to perform the functions required of an auditor of a market intermediary under or pursuant to the provisions of this Act. 584 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the auditor of a market intermediary unless he is a registered by a recognised professional body to practice as accountant and auditors and holds a valid practising certificate. (3) An auditor shall not be eligible for appointment under subsection (1) if he is- (a) a director, officer, employee, shareholder or partner of the market intermediary; or (b) a partner or employee of such person. (4) A market intermediary shall, within seven days of the appointment of an auditor, notify the Authority in writing of the name and address of the auditor. (5) A market intermediary shall, within seven days, notify the Authority in writing of the removal or resignation of an auditor. - 62 Verify source ↗
Audited accounts to be lodged with Authority
A market intermediary must prepare annual financial statements and lodge them, with an auditor’s report, with the authority within three months after the end of the financial year.
62. A market intermediary shall- (a) for the financial year beginning on the day on which he commences to carry on commodity exchange business; and (b) for each subsequent year, prepare financial statements in accordance with financial reporting standards as prescribed by the National Board of Accountants and Auditors, made up to the last day of the financial year which shall show a true and fair view, contained the information prescribed and shall lodge those documents with the authority not later than three months after the end of the financial year, together with an auditor’s report which shall express opinions on such matters as may be prescribed. Audited accounts to be lodged with Authority Auditor to report to Authority in certain cases - 63 Verify source ↗
Auditor to report to Authority in certain cases
An auditor for a market intermediary must report certain serious matters in writing to the Authority and the market intermediary within seven days.
63. Where in the course of the performance of his duties as auditor for a market intermediary, an auditor- (a) becomes aware of any matter which in his opinion adversely affects the financial position of the market intermediary to a material extent; or 585 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Authority may appoint auditor (b) discovers evidence of a contravention of provisions on segregation of client assets or provisions relating to accounts and records to be kept by market intermediaries, he shall as soon as is practicable, and in any event within seven days, report it in writing to the Authority and to the market intermediary. - 64 Verify source ↗
Authority may appoint auditor
The Authority may appoint an auditor in writing, at the market intermediary’s expense, if it is satisfied this is in the public interest.
64. Where the Authority is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, it may appoint in writing an auditor at the expense of the market intermediary to examine, audit, and report, either generally or in relation to any matter, on the books, accounts and records of the market intermediary, and on money, securities or other property held on account of any other person by the market intermediary or by a nominee appointed by the market intermediary, where- (a) the market intermediary has failed to lodge an auditor’s report under section 62; (b) the Authority has received a report under section 63; or (c) the Authority has reason to believe that the market intermediary has failed to comply with section 51 or 52. PART XII APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CAPITAL MARKETS AND SECURITIES ACT Provisions of Capital Market and Securities Act Cap. 79
Part
PART XII
- 65 Verify source ↗
Provisions of Capital Market and Securities Act
This section extends specified Capital Markets and Securities Act provisions to commodity exchange intermediaries, depositories, clearing houses, and commodity exchange brokers and dealers.
65. The provisions of the Capital Markets and Securities Act set out below shall apply mutatis mutandis to the commodity exchanges intermediaries, depositories and clearing houses- (a) Part VII in relation to Accounts and Audit of brokers and dealers, which shall apply to the commodities exchange brokers and dealers; 586 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) Part IX on Market Abuse which shall apply in relation to insider dealing, false trading, market rigging, market manipulation, fraudulent inducement of person to deal in commodities; dissemination of false information, employment of manipulative and deceptive devices. PART XIII MARKET ABUSE Insider dealing, manipulation, rigging, etc. Cap. 79 Bucketing Cornering Liability to pay damages
Part
PART XIII
- 66 Verify source ↗
67. Bucketing
The listed Capital Markets and Securities Act rules apply, with necessary modification, to market abuse in commodities trading on commodity exchanges, subject to section 65(b).
66. Subject to section 65(b), the provisions of the Capital Markets and Securities Act in relation to insider dealing, false trading, market rigging, market manipulation, fraudulent inducement of person to deal in commodities; dissemination of false information, employment of manipulative and deceptive devices shall apply with necessary modification to market abuse that may arise in the course of commodities trading on commodity exchanges. - 67 Verify source ↗
Bucketing
A person must not execute a customer’s order for their own account outside the exchange when doing so is aimed at profiting from a later offsetting transaction.
67. A person shall not execute a customer’s order for his own account outside the exchange with the aim of profiting from an offsetting transaction at a future time. - 68 Verify source ↗
Cornering
A person must not gain control of the supply of a commodity traded on the commodity exchange if the aim is to set its price.
68. A person shall not gain control of the supply of a particular commodity which is traded on the commodity exchange with the aim of setting the price of the said commodity. - 69 Verify source ↗
Liability to pay damages
A person convicted of an offence under this Part may also be sued for damages by someone who lost money on a commodity contract affected by the offence.
69.–(1) A person who is convicted of an offence under this Part shall, in addition to criminal liability for the offence, be liable, at the suit of any person who has sustained pecuniary loss as a result of having purchased or sold a commodity contract at a price affected by the act or transaction which comprises or is the subject of the offence, to an action for damages in respect of the loss incurred. (2) Subsection (1) shall not limit or diminishe any civil liability that any person may incur under any other Act. 587 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Authority may call for information Inspection PART XIV INFORMATION, INSPECTION AND INVESTIGATION
Part
PART XIV
- 70 Verify source ↗
Authority may call for information
The Authority may require a licenced person to provide information by written notice.
70.–(1) The Authority may, by notice in writing, require a licenced person to furnish it with such information as it may require for the exercise of its functions within such reasonable time and verified in such manner as it may specify. (2) The duty to supply information under this section applies notwithstanding any other enactment or rule of law in Tanzania. - 71
The Authority may inspect a licensed person’s business records and documents, and it may authorize another person in writing to use those powers.
71.–(1) For the purpose of ascertaining whether a person who is, or has at any time has been a licenced person is complying or has complied with any provision of or requirement under this Act or regulation, or the terms and conditions of his licence, the Authority may inspect any record or document relating to the business to which the licence applies. (2) The Authority may authorise in writing any person to exercise the powers of the Authority under this section. (3) In the exercise of powers under this section, an authorised person may- (a) enter the premises of the licenced person; (b) require the licenced person, or any other person whom he believes is in possession of or has under his control, any record or document referred to in subsection (1), to produce it to him; (c) make inquiries of a licenced person, or any other person whom he has reasonable cause to believe has information relating to any record or document, referred to in subsection (1), concerning any such record or document, or concerning any transaction or activity which was undertaken in the course of, or which may affect, the business conducted by the licenced person; and (d) inspect and make copies, or take extracts from, and where necessary take possession of, such documents. 588 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (4) For the purpose of an inspection under this section, the licenced person or other person mentioned in subsection (3) shall afford an authorised person access to the records or documents as may be required for the inspection, and shall produce to the authorised person such records or documents as he may require. Investigation - 72 Verify source ↗
Inspection
The Authority may order investigations and require people with relevant records or information to produce documents, explain them, attend, and help. It is also an offence to destroy or hide relevant documents.
72.–(1) Where the Authority has reasonable cause to believe, either on its own motion or as a result of a complaint received, that- (a) an offence has been committed under this Act or any regulation; (b) a licenced person may have engaged in defalcation, fraud, misfeasance or other misconduct in connection with his commodity business; or (c) the manner in which a licenced person has engaged or is engaging in his commodity business is not in the interest of the consumer or the public interest, the Authority may in writing direct one or more of its employees or one or more other persons to investigate any of the matters referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) and to report the results of the investigation to the Authority. (2) A person who is reasonably believed or suspected by the investigator to have in his possession or under his control any record or document which contains, or which is likely to contain, information relevant to an investigation under this section, or who is so believed or suspected of otherwise having such information in his possession or under his control, shall- (a) produce to the investigator, within the time and at the place as the investigator requires in writing, any record or document specified by the investigator which is, or may be, relevant to the investigation, and which is in his possession or under his control; (b) if required by the investigator, give the investigator an explanation or further particulars in respect of any record or document produced under paragraph (a); 589 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Cap. 79 (c) attend before the investigator at the time and place the investigator requires in writing, and answer truthfully and to the best of his ability under oath or affirmation which oath or affirmation the investigator is hereby empowered to administer any question relating to the matters under investigation as the investigator may put to him; and (d) give the investigator all assistance in connection with the investigation which he is reasonably able to give, including responding to any written question raised by the investigator. (3) The provision of sections 24 and 25 of the Capital Markets and Securities Act with regard to investigation of certain matters and measures to be taken pending investigation respectively shall apply in addition to the powers of the Authority under this section. (4) A person who destroys, falsifies, conceals or disposes of, or causes or permits the destruction, falsification, concealment or disposal of, any document, which he knows or ought to know, is relevant to an inspection under section 71 or an investigation under this Act, commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable to a fine of not less than fifty million shillings or to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both. PART XV DISCIPLINE OF MARKET INTERMEDIARIES Disciplinary action in respect of licensees
Part
PART XV
- 73 Verify source ↗
Disciplinary action in respect of licensees
The Authority may discipline a licensee by revoking, suspending, or publicly or privately reprimanding the licensee’s licence or market intermediary status, subject to section 77.
73. Subject to section 77, where- (a) a licensee is, or was at any time, guilty of misconduct; or (b) the Authority is of the opinion that a licensee is not a fit and proper person to remain a licensee, the Authority may exercise such of the following powers as it considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case-: (i) revoke its licence; 590 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Additional disciplinary orders Cap. 79 (ii) suspend its licence for such period or until the occurrence of such event as the Authority may specify; or (iii) publicly or privately reprimand the market intermediary. - 74 Verify source ↗
Additional disciplinary orders
If a licensee has misconduct, the Authority may issue disciplinary orders, including penalties and repayment orders.
74.–(1) Subject to section 77, where a licensee is, or was at any time, guilty of misconduct, the Authority may make one or more of the orders, separately or in addition to any power exercisable under subsection (1)(b)(i), (ii) or (iii), namely an order that the licensee- (a) pay the Authority a pecuniary penalty not less than five million shillings; (b) pay to the Investor Compensation Fund established under the Capital Markets and Securities Act, amount of any profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the misconduct in question. (c) with regard to an employee or agent of a market intermediary- (i) require the licensee to take action against the employee or agent; (ii) disqualify the employee or agent from employment in any capacity by any licensee; (iii) recover from the employee or agent an amount double the amount accruing to him from his misconduct; (d) pay to the Authority a sum appropriate to reimburse the Authority for the costs and expenses that it has reasonably incurred in relation or incidental to the investigation of its conduct. (2) A licensee ordered to pay a pecuniary penalty under subsection (1)(b) shall pay the penalty within thirty days, or such further period as the Authority may specify by notice after the order has taken effect. (3) In this section “misconduct” means- (a) a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or regulations made under this Act; 591 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) a contravention of any of the terms or conditions of a licence granted under this Act; (c) failure to comply with a direction of the Authority; or (d) an act or omission by a licensee in relation to his regulated activity which, in the opinion of the Authority, is or is likely to be prejudicial to the public interest, and “guilty of misconduct” shall be construed accordingly. Other circumstances for disciplinary action - 75 Verify source ↗
Other circumstances for disciplinary action
The Authority may suspend or revoke a licence in listed cases, including misconduct, insolvency, non-compliance, cessation of business, or at the licensee’s request.
75.–(1) The Authority may revoke a licence or suspend a licence for such period or until the occurrence of such event as the Authority may specify- (a) in the case of an individual- (i) it is shown by certified medical evidence that he has become mentally or physically incapable of performing the activities to which the licence relates; (ii) he has been adjudged a bankrupt, in Tanzania or elsewhere; (iii) he is convicted, whether in Tanzania or elsewhere, of fraud or other offences involving dishonesty; (iv) he is in breach of this Act or any regulation made by the Authority under this Act; (v) he has contravened or failed to comply with any condition applicable in respect of his licence; (vi) he has failed to comply with a direction of the Authority; (vii) he has failed to provide the Authority with false or information required, or provides misleading information; (viii) he ceased to carry on the business for which he is licenced; (ix) he is the holder of a representative’s licence and the licence of the principal to whom he is accredited is revoked or suspended; or 592 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (x) he is no longer, by reason of any other circumstances, a fit and proper person to hold a licence; (b) where a licensee is a company- (i) the company goes into liquidation or is ordered to be wound up; (ii) a receiver or manager of all or a substantial part of the property of the company is appointed; (iii) the company ceases to carry on the business for which it is licenced; (v) (iv) the Authority has reason to believe that the company, or any of its directors or employees, has not performed his duties honestly and fairly; the company contravenes or fails to comply with any condition applicable in respect of the licence; (vi) the company does not continue to employ at least one person who holds a representative’s licence granted under this Act; (vii) the company is in breach of this Act, or any regulation made by the Authority under this Act; (viii) fails to comply with a direction of the Authority; (ix) fails to provide the Authority with information false or misleading required, or provides information; or (x) by reason of any other circumstances, the company is no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence. (2) Where the Authority suspends a licence under this section, the suspension shall be for a period not exceeding three months; provided that, the Authority may, if it considers it necessary, extend the suspension for a further period not exceeding three months at the expiry of which the Authority shall either lift the suspension, or proceed to revoke the licence, as it deems appropriate. (3) The licence shall be deemed to be suspended if the licensee fails to pay the prescribed annual fee and, subject to subsection (4), the suspension shall remain in force until such 593 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] time as the Authority considers it appropriate that the licence should no longer be suspended and informs the licensee to that effect by notice in writing. (4) Where a licence is suspended under subsection (3) and the prescribed fee has not been paid within thirty days after the day on which the suspension becomes effective under subsection (3), or such further period as the Authority may specify by notice in writing to the licensee, the licence shall be deemed to be revoked. (5) The Authority may revoke or suspend a licence at the request of the licensee. (6) For purposes of subsections (1)(a)(viii) and (1)(b)(iii) a licensee shall be deemed to have ceased to carry on the business for which he is licenced where- (a) he has ceased to carry on the business for which he is licenced for more than thirty days unless he has obtained the prior approval of the Authority to do so; or (b) he has ceased to carry on such business under a direction issued by the Authority under section 46. (7) Where the Authority suspends or revokes the licence of a market intermediary under this section, it shall cause notice of that fact to be published in the official Gazette. - 76 Verify source ↗
Effect of revocation or suspension
If a licence is revoked or suspended, old agreements and related rights or liabilities are not affected, and the Authority may issue written notices to require record transfers or allow limited business operations.
76.–(1) The revocation or suspension of a licence under this Act shall not operate so as to- (a) avoid or affect an agreement, transaction or arrangement entered into by the market intermediary on the commodity market of a commodity exchange where the agreement, transaction or arrangement was entered into before the revocation or suspension; (b) affect a right, obligation or liability arising under the agreement, transaction or arrangement. (2) Where a licence is revoked or suspended under this Act, the Authority may by notice in writing- 594 Effect of revocation or suspension ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Procedural requirements for exercise of disciplinary powers (a) require the licensee to transfer to, or to the order of, his client such records relating to client property or to the affairs of the client held at any time for the client, in such manner, as the Authority may specify in the notice; or (b) permit the licensee to- (i) (ii) in the case of a revocation, carry on business operations for the purpose of closing down the business connected with the revocation; in the case of a suspension, carry on only essential business operations for the protection of interests of clients during the period of suspension; (iii) subject to such conditions as the Authority may specify in the notice. - 77 Verify source ↗
Procedural requirements for exercise of disciplinary powers
The Authority must give the licensee a chance to be heard before using powers under sections 73 or 74, and if it decides to act it must send a written notice explaining the decision and any related terms.
77.–(1) The Authority shall not exercise any power under section 73 or 74 without first giving the licensee in respect of whom the power is to be exercised a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (2) The Authority may prescribe the manner in which the market intermediary shall be given an opportunity to be heard. (3) Where the Authority decides to exercise any power under section 73 or 74, the Authority shall inform the licensee in respect of whom the power is exercised of its decision to do so by notice in writing, and the notice shall include- (a) a statement of the reasons for which the decision is made; (b) the time at which the decision is to take effect; (c) in so far as applicable, the duration and terms of any revocation or suspension to be imposed under the decision; (d) in so far as applicable, the terms in which the licensee is to be reprimanded under the decision; (e) in so far as applicable, the amount of any pecuniary penalty to be imposed under the decision and the 595 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] period being specified as a period after the decision has taken effect within which it is required to be paid. (4) A pecuniary penalty imposed by the Authority in the exercise of its powers under this Part may be recovered by the Authority as a civil debt and, for purposes of proof of such debt, a certificate under the hand of the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority shall be receivable in evidence as sufficient proof of such debt. (5) The provisions of section 48 regarding powers of the Authority to institute statutory management shall apply in the case of revocation of licences under this section. Disciplinary committee - 78 Verify source ↗
Disciplinary committee
The Authority must establish a standing disciplinary committee.
78. The Authority shall establish a standing disciplinary committee to hear and determine disciplinary proceedings brought against a licensee pursuant to this Act. Offences and penalties PART XVI OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
Part
PART XVI
- 79 Verify source ↗
Offences and penalties
This section creates offences for non-compliance, making false or misleading submissions, and wilful obstruction, with different fines and possible imprisonment for individuals and higher fines for companies.
79.–(1) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act or any regulation commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable - (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not less than five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term of one year or to both; (b) in the case of a company, to a fine of not less than ten million shillings. (2) A person who furnishes or produces for purposes of this Act, or any requirement imposed under any provision of this Act or any regulation which is, or any return, documents or statement the contents of which are, to his knowledge, untrue, incorrect or misleading, commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable- (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not less than ten million shillings or to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both; 596 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (b) in the case of a company, to a fine of not less than fifteen million shillings. (3) A person who wilfully obstructs any member of the Authority, an officer or servant of the Authority, or an authorised person or investigator, in the performance of his duties under this Act, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable- (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not less than five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term of one year or to both; (b) in the case of a company, to a fine of not less than fifteen million shillings. General penalty - 80 Verify source ↗
General penalty
If someone commits an offence under this Act that has no specific penalty, they can be fined at least five million shillings, jailed for at least one year, or both.
80. A person who commits an offence under this Act for which no specific penalty is provided, on conviction, shall be liable to a fine of not less than five million shillings or imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to both. PART XVII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Cooperation between regulators Immunity
Part
PART XVII
- 81 Verify source ↗
Cooperation between regulators
The Authority must cooperate with other regulators and Government agencies on monitoring and supervision in the commodity exchanges ecosystem.
81. The Authority shall cooperate with other regulators and Government agencies relevant to the commodity exchanges ecosystem in the areas of monitoring, supervision of players in the commodity exchanges markets and its allied services. - 82 Verify source ↗
83. Rights of applicants and holders of licences
The Authority, its officers, and employees are protected from damages claims for acts or omissions done while exercising or performing powers or duties under the Act, unless bad faith is shown.
82. The Authority, officers and employees of the Authority shall not be liable to any action in damages for anything done or omitted in the exercise or performance of any power or duty conferred or imposed by or under this Act unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith. Rights of applicants and holders of licences - 83 Verify source ↗
Rights of applicants and holders of licences
The Authority must give the applicant or licence holder a chance to be heard before refusing, revoking, or suspending a licence, and it must give written reasons and notice in certain cases.
83.–(1) The Authority shall not- (a) refuse an application for the grant of any licence under this Act; or (b) revoke or suspend any licence granted under this Act, 597 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] without first giving the applicant or licence holder, as the case may be, an opportunity of being heard. (2) The Authority shall, if it refuses an application, notify the applicant in writing of the refusal and the reasons for it. (3) The Authority shall, if it revokes or suspends a licence, notify the licence holder in writing of the revocation or suspension and of- (a) its reasons for doing so; (b) the date on which the revocation or suspension takes effect; and (c) the duration of a suspension, or the event which shall terminate it. (4) The Authority may prescribe the manner in which a person shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Appeals - 84 Verify source ↗
Appeals
A person affected by certain final licensing decisions of the Authority may appeal to the Tribunal within 14 days after the decision is communicated.
84. A person aggrieved by the final decision of the Authority- (a) refusing to grant a licence under this Act; or (b) revoking or suspending a licence granted under this Act, may appeal against such decision to the Tribunal within fourteen days from the day on which the decision was communicated to that person. (2) The Tribunal may, on an appeal made to it under subsection (1), accept, reverse or vary the decision of the Authority or make such other order as the interests of justice require. (3) Notwithstanding any provision of any other law, a decision of the Authority shall not be subject to any stay of proceedings under subsection (1), in the Tribunal or in any other court of law. Liability of licensee for acts of representative, etc. - 85 Verify source ↗
Liability of licensee for acts of representative, etc
A licensed person is treated as responsible for acts, omissions, or failures of its representative, agent, employee, or other person acting for it within the scope of office or employment.
85. For the purpose of this Act, an act, omission or failure of a representative, agent, employee or other person acting for or on behalf of a licenced person within the scope of his office or employment shall be deemed to be the act, omission or failure of the licenced person as well as of the representative, agent, employee or other person. 598 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Authority may make regulations - 86 Verify source ↗
Authority may make regulations
The Authority may make regulations to carry out the Act and may set rules on licensing, market conduct, fees, returns, complaints, and other related matters.
86.–(1) In addition to the powers conferred by any other section, the Authority may make regulations for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may make regulations for or with respect to- (a) applications for licences, the issue of licences and incidental matters; (b) depositories and clearing houses; (c) the standards for the qualifications, experience and training of applicants for licensing as market intermediaries; (d) the conditions for the conduct of business including limits on a margin requirements and position commodity market; (e) the form and content of contracts, confirmation notes, client agreements and risk disclosure statements; (f) the fixing of limits on amounts of trading or holding of positions during trading on a commodity exchange; (g) the form, content, distribution and publication of written, printed or visual material and advertisements in respect of commodity trading; (h) the information to be contained in auditors’ reports required to be lodged under this Act on the annual accounts of market intermediaries; (i) the remuneration of an auditor appointed under this Act and the costs of an audit carried out under this Act; (j) the display of licences and the issue of duplicates; (k) the making of annual or other regular returns to the Authority by licensees; (l) the fees to be paid in respect of any matter or thing required for purposes of this Act; (m) limit on shareholding of commodity exchanges capital; resolution (n) complaints handling and disputes mechanism; (o) all matters or things which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed or which are necessary or expedient to be prescribed to give effect to this Act. 599 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (3) Any regulations made under this Act by the Authority may- (a) provide that a contravention of any specified provision shall be an offence and may impose financial penalties not exceeding five million shillings; (b) be of general or special application and may make different provisions for different cases or classes of case; and (c) provide for the exercise of discretion in particular cases. (4) For the avoidance of doubt, the powers of the Authority to make regulations under this section are in addition to and not in derogation of any other power of the Authority to make regulations under any provision of this Act or any other Act. (5) All regulations made by the Authority under this Act shall be published in the Gazette and shall take effect upon such publication or on any other date as may be specified in the Gazette. - 87 Verify source ↗
General directions by Authority
The Authority may issue written general or special directions to a market intermediary when immediate action is needed to protect buyers, sellers, or investors.
87.–(1) Where the Authority considers that, for the protection of buyer, seller or investors, there is a need for immediate action with regard to the conduct by a market intermediary in respect of its commodity business, the Authority may entirely on its own initiative issue directions of a general or special nature by notice in writing to the market intermediary. (2) A direction issued under subsection (1) may relate to any matter concerning the conduct of commodity business by a market intermediary. (3) Failure to comply with a direction issued under subsection (1) shall constitute a disciplinary offence and may lead to disciplinary action. General directions by Authority Complaints committee - 88 Verify source ↗
Complaints committee
The Authority may create a standing complaints committee, set its composition and procedures, and the committee may award compensation up to five million shillings.
88. The Authority may establish a standing complaints committee whose jurisdiction shall include the power to award compensation in a sum not exceeding five million shillings and whose composition and procedures shall be as prescribed by the Authority. 600 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] Assistance to regulators outside Tanzania - 89 Verify source ↗
Assistance to regulators outside Tanzania
The Authority may help a foreign regulatory authority with an investigation or its functions if the stated conditions are met.
89.–(1) Where the Authority receives, from a regulatory authority outside Tanzania, a request for assistance for purposes of the exercise of its functions or for the purposes of investigating whether a person specified by the regulatory authority has contravened or is contravening legal or regulatory requirements which- (a) the regulatory authority enforces or administers; and (b) relate to such securities transactions as are regulated by the regulatory authority, the Authority may, where it is of the opinion that the conditions specified in subsection (3) are satisfied, provide such assistance and the assistance to investigate the matter by exercising any of its powers under sections 70, 71 and 72, or by providing such other assistance as the Authority thinks fit. (2) For purposes of subsection (1), the provisions of Part VIII shall, with such adaptations as may be necessary, apply and have effect as if the contravention of the legal or regulatory requirement were an offence under this Act. (3) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are that- (a) it is desirable or expedient that the assistance requested is provided in order to meet the Authority’s objectives under this Act; or (b) the assistance will enable or assist the recipient of the assistance to perform its functions; and (c) the Authority is satisfied that the foreign regulatory authority will provide any non-public information with the confidentiality protection appropriate in the circumstances. (4) In deciding whether the condition specified in subsection (3) is satisfied in a particular case, the Authority shall take into account whether the regulatory authority- (a) will pay to the Authority any of the costs and expenses incurred in providing the assistance; (b) will be able and willing to provide reciprocal assistance within its jurisdiction in response to a comparable request for assistance from Tanzania; and 601 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE COMMODITY EXCHANGES ACT [CAP. 445 R.E. 2023] (c) is a signatory to the multilateral Memorandum of Understanding of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions. Forms - 90 Verify source ↗
Forms
The Authority may issue a notice in the official Gazette to specify forms that must be used for any purpose under the Act.
90. The Authority may, by notice in the official Gazette, specify forms that are required to be used for any purpose under this Act. Codes, guidelines, etc. - 91 Verify source ↗
Codes, guidelines, etc
The Authority may issue and publish codes, guidelines, and related policy statements to guide its objectives, functions, and the operation of the Act.
91.–(1) The Authority may issue such codes, guidelines or regulatory or policy statements as it considers appropriate for providing guidance- (a) in relation to of any of its regulatory objectives under this Act; (b) in relation to any matter relating to any of the functions of the Authority under this Act; (c) in relation to the operation of any provision of this Act. (2) The Authority may publish codes and guidelines in such manner as it deems fit. PART XVIII CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS Omitted
Part
PART XVIII
- 92 Verify source ↗
95. [Omitted.]
Sections 92–95 are omitted in the provided source text.
92.–95. [Omitted.] 602 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.
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