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International Product Certification

INTERNATIONAL PRODUCT CERTTIFICATION DEPARTMENT(IPCD)

Introduction

The International Product Certification Department (IPCD) is a specialized department of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), established through the restructuring of the former Product Certification Department to enhance efficiency, strengthen international operations, and align with global best practices in conformity assessment.

The Department is responsible for managing all offshore conformity assessment and certification activities relating to imported products destined for the Nigerian market, with a focus on ensuring compliance with Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) and applicable technical regulations.

Mandate of IPCD

The mandate of the department is derived from Section (5) of the SON Act No. 14 of 2015 stipulates that SON shall

  • Establish an Import and Export Product Surveillance, Certification and Conformity Assessment Scheme.
  • Undertake registration of all manufactured products distributed, marketed, and consumed throughout Nigeria.

Strategic Objectives

The IPCD is guided by the following strategic objectives:

  • Enhance efficiency and transparency in certification of imported products
  • Strengthen risk-based conformity assessment systems
  • Improve revenue generation and accountability
  • Support Nigeria’s participation in WTO TBT, AfCFTA, and other trade agreements
  • Protect consumers and the environment from unsafe products

There are Four (4) main product certification schemes operated by the Organisation through the International Product Certification Department:

  1. SON Conformity Assessment Programme(SONCAP)
  2. Product Registration
  3. SON Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (SONMELS)
  4. The SON–NADDC Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (VehCAP)

FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE

The International Product Certification Department comprises of the Office of the Director and four Divisions.

  1. SONCAP Division
  2. Product Registration Division
  3. SON Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (SONMELS) Division
  4. The SON-NADDC Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme

STANDARDS ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (SONCAP)

The SONCAP Division is charged with the surveillance and monitoring of the conformance of imported product to SON regulatory requirements as mandated by the SON Act No. 14 of 2015.

The Division is responsible for the management of the utilization of the Product Certificates and Shipment Certificates, issued by the IAFs, for the processing of CBN FormM and the NCS PAAR respectively, to serve as precursor to the actual cargo clearance process at the ports.

The Division is also responsible for managing the process for the issuance of SONCAP Import Permit to bonafide manufacturers and to some importers of some selected non-commercial articles.

The objectives of the programme include but are not limited to the following:

  • Ensure that regulated products comply with the NIS or approved standards prior to export to Nigeria
  • Provide a level playing field in terms of quality for both regulated and locally manufactured products in order to prevent unfair competition
  • Prevent the dumping of substandard goods into the Nigeria market and as a result preventing economic loss to the importer and the nation at large
  • Impede loss of lives and property including foreign exchange bearing in mind that the exporting country/Exporter have been paid for the goods shipped into Nigeria
  • Forestall any adverse reaction (such as environmental pollution occasioned by destruction of substandard products) by regulatory Agencies on arrival of such goods in Nigeria
  • Facilitate trade through fast track clearance of goods at the ports
  • Encourage genuine investors and investments in Nigeria
  • Promote made in Nigeria products
  • Conserve foreign exchange
APPLY HERE/ MORE ABOUT SONCAP

SON MANDATORY ENERGY LABELLING SCHEME (SONMELs)

SONMELs establishes conformity assessment framework for to support implementation of mandatory energy performance standards and energy labeling requirements for selected appliances pursuance to section 5(1)(h) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, 2015. This is to ensure that energy-consuming appliances placed on the Nigerian market meet prescribed Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and carry the appropriate energy label

The objectives of the Division are as follows:

  • Empower consumers with transparent energy efficiency information
  • Promote energy conservation and reduce electricity consumption to support national climate commitments
  • Reduce household electricity costs and the demand on national grid;
  • Prevent dumping of inefficient appliances in the Nigerian market;
  • Incentivize manufacturers to invest in energy-efficient technologies to improve market access for made in Nigeria appliances in other countries.
APPLY HERE/ MORE ABOUT SONMELs

PRODUCT REGISTRATION DIVISION (PIS)

The Product Registration Division is responsible for the registration and maintenance of a database of all imported SON regulated products  sold  in  Nigeria,  as  well  as  their importer and distributor details nationwide.

The objectives of the Division are as follows:

  • To Ensure that every product imported into Nigeria is registered and issued a number and logo before they are sold in the Nigeria markets.
  • To ensure that only good quality products are sold in the Nigerian markets.
  • To ensure traceability of all products.
  • To ensure that Nigeria is not a dumping ground for substandard products..
  • To protect the consumers and ensure that they get value for their money.

SON VEHICLE CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME 

 (VehCAP)

Coming soon…………

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