E-commerce Registration Commences

On 2 October 2023, the Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”) introduced its e-commerce registration system, known as eComReg, during an awareness-raising event held at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce (“UMFCCI”) in Yangon. Individuals and entities engaging in e-commerce activities are now required to register via this new system.

Who needs to be registered?

Companies, business associations, and individuals, whether based in Myanmar or overseas, are required to register via the eComReg System website if they are targeting the Myanmar market. This includes sellers operating through websites, social media platforms, or mobile applications.

Furthermore, electronic or online platforms such as Foodpanda, Grab, and Shop.com, which provide e-commerce services allowing third-party sellers and consumers to trade, are also required to be registered. Such platform owners bear responsibility for settling any disputes that may arise between sellers and consumers. Moreover, they must provide an update of the list of sellers on their platform to the MOC every six months.

Required documents for registration

For registration as an e-commerce entity with the MOC, companies must prepare the following key documents:

• Company incorporation certificate
• Registered formal domain name (e.g. .com, .com.mm)
• A list of the goods or services being sold
• Relevant government licenses or permits for the goods or services being sold (if any)
• Recommendation letters from the relevant police station and local ward administration office

Penalty for failure to register

The deadline for registration as an e-commerce entity with the MOC is 31 December 2023. Those registering before the deadline will be granted a waiver of the registration fee.

The MOC’s Notification No. 51/2023 dated 21 July 2023 on e-commerce registration specifies a penalty of imprisonment for a period ranging from six months to three years and a fine of up to MMK500,000 for entities or individuals operating e-commerce activities without an e-commerce registration certificate.

In addition, the Deputy Director of the Trade Department mentioned during the eComReg system introduction event that actions would be taken against unregistered e-commerce sellers without specifying the nature of those actions.

Thus, we strongly urge businesses to register before the deadline to avoid any penalties.

Note

Since the system has only recently launched and is in the pilot project period, we expect there will be some updates to the system or process in the near future. If you would like to obtain more information on e-commerce registration or require assistance with this matter, please contact the undersigned or your usual VDB Loi adviser.

July Win Naing
Email – [email protected]
Tel – +951 925 3752