Burkina Faso implements new import controls to protect local industries

import regulations local industry support industrialization special import authorization domestic production

The government of Burkina Faso has adopted a new decree to strengthen controls on imports of specific goods to protect and support domestic industries. During a Council of Ministers meeting on October 8, 2026, authorities updated the list of products requiring special import or export authorizations (ASI and ASE).

The regulated products include soaps, detergents, bleach, chalk, and tomato concentrates. This regulatory shift aims to manage the entry of foreign goods that compete directly with locally manufactured items, thereby ensuring the profitability of domestic investments and facilitating the sale of national products within the local market.

Since 2022, Burkina Faso has seen significant industrial growth in these sectors, including the establishment of 23 soap and detergent units, two tomato concentrate plants, and one chalk production unit. Total investments in these industries are estimated at approximately 26 billion FCFA. Seven of these industrial units have received state support through investment code incentives and public savings mobilized via popular shareholding.