CENTUS NWEZE
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says that it envisages stiffer sanctions for sub-standard product dealers in Nigeria.
Making the wish, Farouk Salim, Director General of SON, said so in Abuja at the Stakeholders Conference organised by Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria(CICAN).
He disclosed that Act establishing the Organisation is currently being reviewed at the National Assembly.
He added that the Act would provide stiffer sanctions for unscrupulous individuals who import and deal with sub-standard products.
Salim represented by Mrs. Mariam Samson, Assistant Director, Public Relations Department, said the Bill to repeal and enact SON Act, when passed into law would not only impose fines on dealers of sub-standard products, but also prescribe jail terms to them to serve as a deterrent to others.
He also said the Bill to repeal and enact SON Act, when passed into law would criminalise the production, manufacturing and distribution of substandard products that could endanger the lives of consumers in the country.
The Act, according to SON Director General, was aimed at strengthening the core mandate of the Organisation against malpractices as well as “encourage improved competitiveness of Nigerian goods at home and abroad by encouraging quality assurance practices”.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives had last week passed the Bill seeking to repeal and enact SON Act for second reading.
Speaking on the organisation’s role so far on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, Salim said SON has been working with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to ensure efficient Service delivery through the promotion of a transparent and efficient business environment and publication of processes and requirements, timelines and fees in SON premises and on its website.
He revealed that the SON emerged tops in the PEBEC 2020/21 ranking in the Ease of Doing Business among Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) in Nigeria.
He further noted that Off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) was part of continuous efforts by SON to protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe and or sub-standard products.
According to him, “Standards Organisation of Nigeria has in place an off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) since September 1, 2005.
“The Programme is to ensure that regulated imports comply with the approved Standards, Technical Regulations and other specifications acceptable in Nigeria.
“The SONCAP certificate is a mandatory customs clearance document in Nigeria and Regulated Products arriving without this document will be subject to delays to assess conformance to Standards requirements and possibly denial of entry if found non-conforming.
“SONCAP is applicable to Regulated Products in addition to any other existing import processes.”
Explaining Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), which is another initiative of SON, Salim said MANCAP is a mandatory product certification scheme to ensure that all locally manufactured products in Nigeria conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) before such products are presented for sale in the market.