The Tunisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged Tunisian companies operating in the Libyan market to closely monitor four regulatory texts adopted by Libyan authorities in 2026. These provisions concern the organization of economic activity, the import of agricultural pesticides, the protection of trademarks, and the granting of foreign commercial agencies.
This call appears in a guidance note published following a correspondence from the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, based on information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The objective is to help Tunisian companies anticipate regulatory requirements that may affect their business operations and their exports to Libya.
Unified Economic Number: Verify Libyan Partner Information
Decision No. 348 of 2026 by the Libyan Council of Ministers authorizes the Ministry of Economy and Trade to implement the Unified Economic Number project, designed to organize company data and to improve coordination between the different administrations.
The note recommends Tunisian exporters to verify information concerning their Libyan partners and to contact them in advance to ensure that the required formalities have been completed before finalizing contracts or shipping goods.
Import of Agricultural Pesticides: Verify Origin and Compliance of Products
Decision No. 343 of 2026 by the Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade governs the import of agricultural pesticides, setting conditions relating to the origin of products, technical documents, and import procedures.
According to the note, applying this decision could require additional certificates, analyses, or authorizations prior to the import of the products concerned.
Companies are thus invited to verify the origin, conformity and admission conditions of the products before shipment, while informing themselves about the scope of the decision and any possible exemptions.
Trademarks: Prevent the Risks of Similarity
Decision No. 270 of 2026 by the Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade defines the technical and legal criteria used to assess similarities between trademarks and to resolve potential conflicts.
The note recommends Tunisian companies, where applicable, to register their trademarks in Libya, to verify the absence of conflicts with existing trademarks, and to retain documents certifying their registration and ownership.
Foreign Commercial Agencies: Re-examine Contracts and Registration Procedures
The regulation attached to Decision No. 319 of 2026 by the Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade sets the rules governing the grant of foreign commercial agencies.
It covers, in particular, the conditions applicable to commercial agents and their principals, agency contracts, as well as registration and compliance procedures.
The note invites Tunisian companies working with commercial agents or distributors in Libya to re-examine their contracts and verify their compliance with Libyan legislation.
It also recommends seeking clarifications on the application of the regulation to existing contracts as well as any transitional provisions.
The recommendations set out in this document finally emphasize the importance of checking in advance the sector-specific formalities and coordinating with the commercial partners and the competent Libyan authorities before any business operation.
