The 14th ARSO Champions meeting, held on 4th November 2024 in Casablanca, Morocco, brought together regional representatives to assess progress, since the previous gathering in June in Abuja, Nigeria, and to outline ARSO’s upcoming strategic initiatives.
At the meeting, Nigeria—represented by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)—emphasized the need for dual-marking standards. SON called on ARSO to engage government and diplomatic channels to establish Nigeria’s SON mark alongside the ARSO mark, aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) dual-marking requirements. This move is aimed at harmonizing standards across Africa and enhancing intra-continental trade.
Additionally, SON highlighted that export certification remains non-mandatory under Nigerian regulations, underscoring the country’s approach to maintain regulatory flexibility while advancing regional standardization. The meeting reaffirmed ARSO’s dedication to supporting African nations in strengthening standardization efforts, a critical driver for economic growth under the AfCFTA framework.
