Myanmar: New Customs Rules on Trade Marks to prevent counterfeit goods

On July 14, 2023, through Notification No. 50/2023, the Ministry of Planning and Finance introduced the Customs Rules pertaining to trade marks. This framework establishes a legal avenue for enforcing registered trade marks, including ex-officio measures, to combat the influx of counterfeit products into Myanmar. This move is particularly significant due to Myanmar's geographical proximity to countries notorious for trademark infringement, such as China and Thailand. Given this, it is strongly recommended that owners of trade marks take proactive steps to register their marks with the Customs Department.