Nigeria

STANDARDS ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (SONCAP)

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), a statutory parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria, was established as the Standardisation and Certification Body for product and management systems assessment. Based on a Federal Government Policy, to prevent the importation in to Nigeria of substandard and unsafe products, SON has implemented an offshore Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP).

Under SONCAP, intended imports which are on the list of SON regulated products are subject to verification in the country of export to ensure compliance with the applicable Nigerian Industrial Standards and/or other approved International Standards.

SGS is one of the certification bodies appointed by SON to carry-out conformity assessment abroad. SONCAP consists of two mandatory processes:

1. Product Certificate: The first time that a product, on the SON regulated list, is to be exported to Nigeria a sample must be tested by an approved laboratory to verify conformance with SON stipulated Standards. SGS may also need to conduct an audit of the manufacturer’s factory or require additional quality control documentation. If the verification is successful, the exporter can request SGS to issue a Product Certificate which will be required by the Nigerian importer to open a Form M (Import Application) prior to shipment of the goods. The Product Certificate may be valid for up to 3 years.
   
   
2. SONCAP Certificate: For each shipment of the goods covered by the Product Certificate the exporter should request SGS to issue a SONCAP Certificate based on the seller’s final commercial invoice for the shipment. Additionally, SGS may require, on a selective basis, to carry-out a physical inspection and/or a laboratory test. The SONCAP Certificate is required by the importer for Customs clearance of the goods in Nigeria.

SGS as the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company with a global network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories is committed to provide exporters to Nigeria, and importers in Nigeria, with efficient services under SONCAP. SGS also has mandates to perform similar product conformity assessment services in Kenya, Kuwait, India, Indonesia, Russia, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia.