NACE 20 – Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products | Public Tenders
NACE 20: chemical industry in public tenders. CPV codes, contracting authorities and typical contract types for chemicals, cleaning products and laboratory chemicals.
Definition: NACE 20 covers the manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilisers, plastics, rubber products, paints, varnishes, detergents and other chemical products. The chemical industry is an important supplier to public institutions.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026
What does NACE 20 cover?
NACE 20 (Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products) classifies businesses in the chemical industry — from basic chemicals to specialty chemicals for industry, agriculture and households.
| Group | Title | Typical Goods |
|---|---|---|
| 20.1 | Manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilisers and nitrogen compounds | Acids, alkalis, fertilisers, gases |
| 20.2 | Manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products | Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides |
| 20.3 | Manufacture of paints, varnishes and printing inks | Wall paints, industrial varnishes, printing inks |
| 20.4 | Manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes and toilet preparations | Cleaning agents, disinfectants |
| 20.5 | Manufacture of other chemical products | Adhesives, explosives, cleaning concentrates |
| 20.6 | Manufacture of man-made fibres | Synthetic fibres, rayon |
Public tenders – chemical products
Cleaning and disinfection products, paints and laboratory chemicals are regularly procured by public institutions. Explosives and specialty chemicals are procured by authorities with specific security needs.
Typical contract types:
- Cleaning and disinfection products: For hospitals, schools, public authorities
- Paints and varnishes: For building maintenance and vehicle fleets
- Road-marking paints: For municipal road administrations
- Laboratory chemicals: For research institutions, environmental laboratories
- Explosives: For armed forces, police, explosive-ordnance disposal services
- Pesticides: For public green spaces, forestry administrations
| CPV Code | Title | Application |
|---|---|---|
| 24000000 | Chemical products | Chemicals in general |
| 24100000 | Gases | Technical and protective gases |
| 24300000 | Basic inorganic and organic chemicals | Laboratory chemicals, basic materials |
| 24455000 | Disinfectants | Hygiene in hospitals, public authorities |
| 44810000 | Paints | Building paints, marking paints |
| 24950000 | Specialised chemical products | Explosives, specialty materials |
Contracting authorities
The principal contracting authorities for chemical products are:
- Hospitals and care facilities: Disinfectants, cleaning products
- Municipal cleaning services: Detergents and hygiene products for building cleaning
- Armed forces: Explosives, lubricants, technical chemicals
- Highway maintenance depots: Marking paints, road-care chemicals
- Research institutions: Laboratory chemicals, reagents
FAQ
Which rules apply to the procurement of hazardous substances? The procurement of hazardous substances is subject to the REACH Regulation, the German Chemicals Act (ChemG) and the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV). Public contracting authorities must request safety data sheets and ensure appropriate storage.
Are cleaning products awarded as standalone contracts? Yes, particularly for large facilities (clinics, universities, barracks complexes), cleaning-product supplies are tendered as standalone framework agreements. These are often combined with cleaning-service contracts.
Related NACE entries:
- NACE C – Manufacturing
- NACE 20.1 – Basic chemicals
- NACE 20.3 – Paints and varnishes
- NACE 20.4 – Detergents and cleaning products
- NACE 21 – Manufacture of pharmaceutical products
- NACE 22 – Manufacture of rubber and plastic products
Last updated: April 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
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