Nigeria-bound products need to have certificates

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Category: Governmental News

Published: Tuesday, 09 August 2011 09:26

A couple of days ago, the Standardization Administration of Nigeria initiated the SONCP and market monitoring program, to eliminate unqualified projects in the market. This means that products bound to Nigeria that are under control of SONCAP must obtain SONCAP certificates and received strict supervision.

To better carry out the SONCAP, Nigeria will establish SON departments in major markets, which will serve as information centers where customers can go to identify whether they have bought the authentic products. Products without certifications of SONCAP will be rejected. To ensure importers conforming to the certified procedures, the SON administration has started to charge penalty and cash deposit for products not conforming to SONCAP.

Nigeria mainly depends on imports for industrial products, textiles and garments, building materials and porcelain. In face of increasing trade barriers, many companies of Ningbo are eyeing the Nigerian market. Statistics show that during the first half year, Ningbo has exported 1057 batches of products to Nigeria, worth 38.5 million USD, up 13% and 18 percent respectively. The export structure is getting diversified, including lighting tools, small appliances, garments and textiles, cells , etc.

Inspection and quarantine departments think that the SONCAP certification is the passport to Nigeria and is an important index of the product competitiveness. To obtain it is a must for exporters