The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) is a government agency in Nigeria responsible for formulating and enforcing quality standards for imported goods and domestically manufactured products.
In order to ensure that regulated products comply with the country’s approved technical standards or other international standards and protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe or substandard products, the Nigerian National Bureau of Standards decided to implement a pre-shipment conformity assessment procedure for regulated products exported to the country (Standard Organization of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme, SONCAP for short) means Nigeria’s mandatory conformity assessment procedure. SONCAP is a new policy implemented by the Nigerian federal government to inspect and control the export of unqualified and unsafe products to the country.
This conformity assessment business element includes: physical inspection before shipment, sampling, testing and analysis in accredited laboratories, review of product production processes and systems, document review, and other (product) standard conformity assessments.
Nigeria certification (SONCAP certification) consists of two parts: PC certificate (product certificate) and SC certificate (customs clearance certificate).
SONCAP certification has three modes for applying for PC certificates:
1. Product Certificate U: The product is not registered or licensed. Each batch of shipped products must be tested and inspected, and finally the SC certificate is issued. It should be noted that the certificate is only valid for the batch of shipped goods applied for.
2. Product Certificate R: Product registration. Product registration is to ensure that the product meets the relevant standards and the manufacturer has the necessary ability to continuously produce products of the same quality level through product type testing and evaluation of the manufacturer’s quality management system.
3. Product Certificate L: Product license, generally for high-risk products, product license is based on a detailed evaluation of the product, including testing, factory audits and regular monitoring. If the product meets the relevant Nigerian standards or its recognized equivalent standards, a license will be granted. Product licenses are only applicable to product manufacturers, not exporters/suppliers.
Information required to apply for SONCAP certificate: application mark, PC certificate, packing list invoice, bill of lading scan, form m file.
Note: Nigeria PC certificate is valid for one year. Different products can be applied for on one PC at the same time. No PC certificate is required for exporting to Nigeria again within one year.
Post time: Jan-23-2025