The Honduran Congress published the Law for the Strengthening and Protection of the Agribusiness Sector, Energy Projects, Tourism, Livestock, and Small Agricultural Producers in the June 26, 2026 edition of the Official Gazette.
The new law declares the protection of agribusiness activities, energy and tourism projects, livestock operations, and small agricultural producers to be a matter of national interest and priority. This protection extends to investments, productive land, infrastructure, logistics networks, and other assets dedicated to these activities.
The law also introduces measures to streamline administrative procedures and establishes mechanisms to prevent and address illegal occupations, blockades, and other actions that may disrupt the continuity of productive projects.
Key provisions of the new legislation include:
- Enhanced protection for investments and private property: Land dedicated to protected activities and duly registered with the Property Registry is declared exempt from expropriation or other forms of compulsory acquisition, including agrarian reform or other public interest measures provided by law. Any disputes regarding ownership or possession must be resolved exclusively before the competent courts.
- Priority administrative processing: Projects covered by the law will receive preferential treatment in the processing of permits, registrations, authorizations, and other administrative procedures. In addition, certain administrative proceedings must be resolved within a period not exceeding one-half of the ordinary statutory timeframe, except for environmental permits.
- Operational continuity safeguards: Authorities must ensure the uninterrupted movement of products, raw materials, machinery, fuel, equipment, and essential personnel, even during demonstrations or road blockades, by establishing secure logistics corridors and other measures to preserve supply chains.
- Immediate response to illegal occupations and blockades: The Public Prosecutor's Office, the National Police, and other competent authorities are required to intervene promptly in cases involving illegal occupations, land invasions, or blockades affecting projects protected under the law, in accordance with applicable criminal and criminal procedure legislation.
- Extension of protection to the energy sector: The law also applies to power generation, transmission, and other energy infrastructure considered essential to the continuity of public services and the country's energy security.
Can your business benefit?
The legislation is intended to provide greater legal certainty for investments in strategic sectors. Domestic and foreign companies developing agribusiness, energy, or tourism projects may benefit from faster administrative procedures and a legal framework that prioritizes business continuity.
However, these benefits are available only to projects that have properly documented property rights and the required governmental authorizations. Accordingly, businesses should verify that their property titles, land registry records, licenses, permits, and other regulatory approvals are valid, current, and up to date, as these documents form the basis for accessing the protections established under the new law.
