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COMFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME OF THE STANDARDS ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA

By Jeff Sovern

Here is an abridged version of a paper by Dr. Felicia Monye, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and Editor-in-Chief of the Consumer Journal.  The full text of the paper may be found in volume three of the Consumer Journal.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the standards body of the country, is tackling the problem of fake and substandard products through its two recently introduced programmes, namely, the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP). MANCAP applies to locally manufactured products, while SONCAP applies to imported regulated products.

The aim of the MANCAP scheme is to ensure that all locally manufactured products conform to relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) before they are presented for sale in the Nigerian market or are exported. The scheme requires a comprehensive assessment of product quality characteristics and performance tests before conformance certificate is issued. It took effect on 01 January 2006 with a grace period of 12 months.

Under SONCAP, products intended for import into Nigeria are subjected to laboratory analysis with a view to checking compliance with the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard or an approved international standard.

Hitherto, SON adopted a voluntary certification system. Thus, manufacturers enjoyed the liberty whether or not to apply for certification. Those who chose to do so, if successful, were awarded the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) certificate which they could affix to the winning product(s). The voluntary nature of this programme left many products uncertified.

Certification under the current programmes is mandatory. The aim is to protect consumers against substandard and unsafe products. It is also designed to protect genuine manufacturers against unhealthy trade practices, counterfeiting and unfair competition in the market place.

The purpose of this paper is to appraise the requirements of these schemes and the prospects of achieving the desired goals

The Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme

(MANCAP)

The Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) is a programme adopted by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to ensure that all locally manufactured products conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial standard (NIS) before they are presented for sale in the Nigerian market or exported.

In justifying the introduction of the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), the Standards organisation of Nigeria (SON) explains that over the years the lack of conformity assessment programme covering all products manufactured in Nigeria had prevented fair competition and distinction between quality and substandard products thereby depriving genuine manufacturers and consumers of the opportunity and value-for-money for goods/services provided in Nigeria.

Objectives of the Scheme

The objectives of the scheme are listed as follows:

(a)                Ensuring that manufactured products comply with Nigerian Industrial Standards prior to introduction into the market.

(b)               Promoting quality awareness and hence wealth creation through reduction of waste in the form of substandard products.

(c)                Preventing the production and sale of substandard and/or unsafe products to consumers thereby protecting lives and property.

(d)               Ensuring that products purchased by consumers offer value for money while guaranteeing safety of life and the environment.

(e)                Providing confidence that only products that meet the minimum quality requirements are put for sale on the Nigerian market.

(f)                 Providing a level playing ground in competitive domestic and international markets.

(g)                Preventing dumping of unsafe counterfeited products in our markets.

(h)                Providing reliable records for identification and traceability of all locally manufactured products in the country and to promote investment and trade of Nigerian products standardisation.

(i)                  Inspiring confidence in consumers that products purchased will meet intended use.   

Compliance/ Certification Procedures

The process of certification for MANCAP is initiated by the manufacturer of the product that is intended to be certified. Such a manufacturer approaches any SON office for the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard and the MANCAP application form. This is followed by inspection of factory and analysis of product samples by SON technical officers. If the product meets the laid down requirements, the MANCAP certificate of conformity is issued for the product with a copy of the MANCAP NIS Logo. The MANCAP NIS Logo and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, MANCAP certificate number must be affixed to the smallest unit pack of the product before sale to members of the public. To prevent a drop in quality after certification, SON monitors the certified product through periodic factory inspection and product testing. The MANCAP Certificate is renewable on a three-yearly basis subject to a satisfactory yearly surveillance conformity report.   

SONCAP

This scheme was introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2005 to check the importation of substandard and unsafe products into the country. It came into effect on 01 September 2005 with a grace period of 90 days.

Under the scheme, SON conducts conformity assessment and verification of regulated products intended for exportation to Nigeria. The aim is to ensure that such products conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard or any applicable international standard. The verification is carried out in the country of shipment. This ensures that only safe and good quality products are shipped into Nigeria. It ensures that Nigeria is not made a dumping ground for substandard and injurious products, and has the further advantage of protecting consumers against unsafe and substandard finished products. It equally protects importers against financial losses that might be occasioned by possible seizure and destruction of such products on arrival in Nigeria. Thus it affords a prospective importer the opportunity to protect his economic interest by ensuring that the products he intends to import are duly certified before shipment into Nigeria.

Objectives of SONCAP

The objectives of the programme are to:

(a)                ensure that regulated products comply with the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) specification prior to export to the Nigerian Market place.

(b)               ensure a level play field in terms of quality for both imported and locally manufactured regulated products so as to prevent unfair market competition;

(c)                prevent the dumping of substandard goods into the Nigerian market thus preventing economic loss to the importer and the nation at large;

(d)               prevent loss of lives and property including hard earned foreign exchange, as the exporting Country/Exporter would have been paid for the goods before shipping into Nigeria;

(e)                prevent any adverse reaction (such as environmental pollution occasioned by destruction of substandard products) by regulatory agencies on arrival of such goods in Nigeria;

(f)                 ensure fast track clearance of goods at the ports thus facilitating trade; and

(g)                help to encourage genuine investors to come to Nigeria.   

Scope of SONCAP and Compliance Procedures

SONCAP is an offshore activity which deals with the verification of product compliance. It ensures that regulated products conform to specifications of the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) or other approved international standards. The review process covers accreditation of the laboratory used for the test, scope of test performed as well as validity and authenticity of Test Report.

Two basic procedures are adopted in the SONCAP programme. The first is the product certification. This takes place if the product is being imported for the first time. Here, the exporter in the country of supply is required to submit to the SON Country Office (SONCO) in the exporting country a Test Report used for substantiating the declaration. If the product passes the prescribed tests, a Product Certificate is issued with a maximum validity of three years. The final procedure which applies on a shipment-by-shipment basis is the issuance of the SONCAP Certificate. This is a mandatory customs clearance document in Nigeria; and Regulated Products arriving without it will be subjected to delays and possible rejection.

SONCAP applies in addition to other import requirements such as destination inspection certificate. 

Practical Implementation of MANCAP and SONCAP

Perhaps, it may be too early to assess the success of MANCAP and SONCAP. But SON has commenced the issuance of MANCAP to manufacturers whose products already bear the NIS certificate. For fresh applicants, assessment is based on the MANCAP requirements. The MANCAP NIS logo is awarded to successful applicants. 

As regards imported products, SONCAP is duly implemented. SON ensures that all products falling within the ?regulated products? list carry the SONCAP certificate before they are cleared for shipment into Nigeria.

The ultimate goal of MANCAP and SONCAP is to reduce, or if possible, eliminate the distribution of unsafe and substandard locally manufactured and imported products in the Nigerian market. The mandatory nature of these schemes holds a definite advantage for consumers, given the technical nature of product standards. In many cases, product defects are not detected by physical or visual examination but may require scientific analysis. Where this is the case, the role of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria becomes imperative. The MANCAP and SONCAP make it possible for the Organisation to certify all products and thus safeguard the consuming public against unwholesome products.

There is no doubt that if well-implemented, the MANCAP and SONCAP schemes will usher in an era of consumer confidence in both imported and locally made products.

References

1. SONCAP in Brief
2. MANCAP in Brief
3. www.soncap.com

Full post as published by CL&P Blog on August 25, 2008 (boomark / email).