Tunisia Introduces Innovative Debt Regularization Scheme for Agricultural Sector
Tunisia has implemented a unique mechanism to facilitate the regularization of bank debts for agricultural operators and businesses in the agricultural sector. Law No. 2026-5, published on Wednesday in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT), establishes the rules for agricultural actors to clarify their financial situation with regard to unpaid debts.
Key Provisions of the Law
- Public and private banks are required to offer a complete rescheduling of the capital and contractual interest on debts classified as category 4 and above with the Central Bank of Tunisia.
- The repayment period can be up to seven years, including a one-year deferment, with a waiver of late payment penalties subject to an initial payment of 5% of the principal upon submission of the application.
- For debtors who can settle their entire debt immediately, the law provides for a complete waiver of late payment penalties and a 50% reduction of the remaining contractual interest, provided the payment is made within six months.
Implementation and Application
- The Central Bank of Tunisia is responsible for defining the practical modalities of application within 15 days, including unified contract models and processing deadlines, which cannot exceed one month.
- The Central Bank will also be responsible for automatically lifting negative registrations for beneficiaries once the rescheduling or conciliation agreements with the banks are validated.
Eligibility and Exclusions
- Debts subject to prosecution for corruption or money laundering are excluded from the scheme, unless a final acquittal judgment has been rendered.
- The scheme applies to all unpaid debts classified as category 4 and above before September 30, 2025, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2026.
