Jordan: Changes to Agricultural Regulations Effective August 16, 2025:

The Ministry of Agriculture implemented new regulations that introduced significant changes to agricultural processes which took effect on August 16, 2025. A key amendment concerns the annuity payment schedule. Under the previous rules, payments could be made from January to April. The new regulations, however, mandate that all annuity payments must now be completed exclusively within the two-month period of December to the end of January each year. Additionally, the new regulations include beneficial modifications to streamline the plant variety registration process. Previously, certain plant varieties were not eligible for registration, but now, all varieties are permitted for registration, except for those that are specifically prohibited from production and distribution under Jordanian law.

Zanzibar: Industrial Property Office (ZIPO) Fee Adjustments:

Effective August 11, 2025, the Zanzibar Industrial Property Office (ZIPO), operating under the Zanzibar Business and Property Registration Agency (BPRA), implemented a new and revised schedule of official fees for a comprehensive range of intellectual property services, including trademarks, patents, industrial designs, and geographical indications, as published in the Zanzibar Government Gazette (Vol. CXXXIV No. 7369) on July 18, 2025. This fee adjustment includes increases and also introduces new fees for specific services. It is imperative for all applicants to be aware that these updated fees will be applied retrospectively to all new and pending applications for which fees have not been paid by the effective date. Despite the increase in official fees, we at JAH Intellectual Property, maintain our professional charges with no increase.

Urgent Alert: Be Cautious of Procurement Scams:

Lastly, we wish to address the rising number of tender and procurement scams, as we have recently received enquiries on actions to be taken against fraudsters who are actively targeting businesses by posing as legitimate tender organizers or legal representatives. Please be extremely cautious of any demand for upfront payments for “court charges,” “legalization,” or “administrative fees.” Legitimate tenders rarely require these kinds of payments before a contract is finalized.