– The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to submit amended regulations governing the registration of intellectual property agents to Parliament for approval.The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development under the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003.The Act provides the legal framework for the recognition of intellectual property associates and the performance of their duties. It allows lawyers, as well as eligible non-lawyers and corporate bodies, to be recognized as intellectual property associates.

The Intellectual Property Regulations No. 01 of 2006, published in Gazette Notification No. 1445/10 dated May 17, 2006, empower the Director General of Intellectual Property to establish administrative procedures for the registration of associates. The regulations also set out eligibility criteria for non-lawyers seeking recognition based on their qualifications.Accordingly, an amendment to Order 58 of the Intellectual Property Regulations No. 01 of 2006 was published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2500/15 dated August 3, 2026.

The amendment provides for the appointment of individuals with higher educational qualifications in specific subject areas, including first degrees in relevant fields such as engineering and science, as agents in relation to patents.The Cabinet approved the proposal to submit the amended regulations to Parliament for approval, with the aim of establishing the relevant provisions for the registration and recognition of qualified intellectual property agents.