Benin: 8 categories of local products mandated for public buyers

The Benin is strengthening the preference for products made within its territory in public procurement. A circular letter from the Minister of Economy and Finance, Aristide Médénou, dated 4 September 2026 and published by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP) on 10 September, requires administrations, institutions, and other public entities to purchase locally the products listed in eight categories.

The measure covers cereal products and derivatives, oilseeds and derivatives, beverages and water, hygiene and cleaning products, textiles and clothing, school and administrative furniture, cultural and musical instruments, as well as construction materials and works. The attached list notably includes gari, corn, millet, beans, vegetable oils, locally produced juices, soaps, uniforms, administrative furniture, traditional instruments, and bricks or paving stones.

The circular specifies that purchases must be made from authorized local artisans, production units, or companies. The acquired products must meet the technical specifications, standards, and quality requirements set out in the Reference Price Directory (RPR), which is also used to periodically update the list of affected products.

The obligation applies to all stages of the acquisition process, from expressing the need to receiving the order. When an administration wants to replace a locally made product on the list with an imported product, it must first obtain authorization from the Minister of Economy and Finance.

Eight targeted product families

In detail, cereal products and derivatives include fine or ordinary gari, premium gari with coconut milk, rice, fonio, corn, millet, beans, sorghum, attiéké, and yam chips. The oilseeds category targets, among others, peanut oil, palm oil, sesame oil, vegetable oils, peanut paste, peanut seeds, and shea butter.

For beverages, the list mentions ginger, pineapple, mango, bissap, or baobab juices, as well as mineral water and locally made drinks. Hygiene products include liquid soaps, soap bars, and disinfectants. Textiles also cover uniforms for armed forces and similar personnel, justice staff uniforms, t-shirts, caps, personalized jerseys, and other uniforms.

The ministry links this instruction to the national policy for promoting local production, the budget execution rules for public administrations, the Public Procurement Code from law n°2020-26 of 29 September 2020, and the UEMOA community regulation related to craftsmanship. Circular n°213/MEF/DC/SGM/DNC/Sp-c is dated 4 September 2026 and was published online by the ARMP on 10 September.