Prohibited goods, counterfeits and false origin in Mali: what the Customs Code says

Before buying abroad to resell in Bamako, you need to know what you may bring in. The Customs Code (law no. 2022-013 of 23 June 2022) gives the word "prohibited" a broader meaning than "banned": it also covers goods subject to restrictions or formalities. Here is what its articles 31 to 35 say.

Please note: the list of prohibited goods is not in the Code: it is set by joint order of the ministers in charge of Customs and Trade (article 31). This page presents the principles, not that list.

Key points (text checked on 19 October 2026)

• Prohibited means any goods whose import or export is banned, or subject to restrictions, quality or packaging rules, or special formalities.
• The prohibition is lifted on presenting an official authorisation, or if the applicable rules are met.
• Counterfeits are prohibited, even in transit, in a free zone or in a warehouse.
• A foreign product that suggests Malian origin is prohibited on import.

A broad definition

Article 31 treats as prohibited all goods whose import or export is banned on any ground or subject to restrictions, quality and packaging rules or special formalities. This notably covers goods banned to protect:

• public order and public safety;
• the health or life of people, animals and plants;
• public morality;
• the environment;
• national treasures of artistic, historical or archaeological value;
• intellectual property rights;
• competition law and consumer interests.

The prohibition is lifted when the importer or exporter presents an official authorisation document applicable to the declared goods, complies with the restriction, quality and packaging rules, or completes the required formalities. Such a document may never be lent, sold or assigned by the holder to whom it was issued by name (article 31, paragraph 4).

Prohibition or restriction measures apply even if the goods are exempt from duties: an exemption removes neither the detailed declaration nor these rules (article 128). Importers and exporters must also comply with the foreign trade control regulations (article 35).

Products passing themselves off as Malian

Prohibited on import, and excluded from warehouses, transit and circulation, are foreign products bearing, on themselves or their packaging (crates, bales, envelopes, bands, labels), a trade mark, name, sign or indication liable to suggest they were made in Mali or in a member country of the regional economic communities (article 32).

The rule also applies to foreign products obtained in a locality with the same name as a Malian locality, when they do not carry, alongside that name, the name of the country of origin and the word "imported" in clearly visible characters.

Finally, foreign products that do not meet the community rules on origin marking are prohibited on entry and excluded from warehouses (article 34).

Counterfeits

Article 33 prohibits the import, export and re-export of counterfeit goods, including when they are declared for transit or another suspensive regime, or placed in a free zone or customs warehouse.

Counterfeit goods are those made in breach of rights protected in Mali held by the owner of an exclusive right over:

• an invention patent or a utility model;
• a product or service trade mark;
• an industrial design;
• a literary and artistic property right;
• a geographical indication;
• a plant variety.

The penalties that go with these prohibitions are described in our page on customs offences and penalties.

What an importer should remember

• Check, before ordering, whether the product is subject to a permit or restriction: ask customs or a licensed broker.
• A free advance ruling from customs can fix tariff classification and origin before the operation: see clearing goods through customs.
• For duties and the route of goods: importing into Mali.

Frequently asked questions

Is a "prohibited" good always banned?

No: under the Code it may also simply be subject to restrictions or formalities, and the prohibition is lifted on presenting the required authorisation.

Where can I find the list of prohibited goods?

In the joint order of the ministers in charge of Customs and Trade, not in the Code itself.

Can counterfeits transit through Mali?

No: counterfeits are prohibited even when declared for transit, in a free zone or in a warehouse.

Official source (checked on 19 October 2026)

• Official Journal of the Republic of Mali, special issue no. 09 of 7 July 2022, law no. 2022-013 of 23 June 2022 on the Customs Code (French), articles 31 to 35 and 128.