Law No. 18/2026 gives the Government 180 days to publish a new regime for commercial and mercantile services.
Law No. 18/2026 of 2 July grants the Mozambican Government a Legislative Authorisation to enact a new legal framework for commercial activity and mercantile services. The framework is built around free enterprise, fair competition, consumer protection, administrative simplification and regulatory proportionality.
Not yet the final regime
The law does not itself set the new rules. It empowers the Government to draft and publish implementing legislation, within a 180-day window from 2 July 2026.
Expected changes
- Classification of the commercial network by size and scale.
- New access, licensing and registration requirements for domestic and external trade.
- New rules on sales modalities and post-sale guarantees.
- A new sanctioning framework for traders and service providers.
What this means for clients
Any business engaged in commercial or mercantile activity in Mozambique should follow this closely, as the forthcoming decree may reshape licensing and compliance obligations across the retail and services sectors. There is nothing to file today, but the content of the decree will determine what, if anything, needs to change in licensing, registration and customer-facing terms. It should be read alongside the recently revised Mere Prior Notification and Simplified Licensing regimes. Lechêne, Iñiguez & Partners is tracking the drafting process and will share updates as the implementing decree takes shape.
