Nigeria implements mandatory pre-shipment conformity assessment (SONCAP) for controlled products exported to the country

Certification introduction:

The Standard organization of Nigeria (SON) is Nigeria's government agency responsible for formulating and enforcing quality standards for imported goods and domestically manufactured products. In order to ensure that controlled products comply with the country's technical standards or other international standards that have been approved for implementation, and to protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe products or products that do not meet standards, the Nigeria National Bureau of Standards has decided to implement controls on controlled products exported to the country. Mandatory Conformity Assessment Procedure Before Shipment (hereinafter referred to as SONCAP).
On March 1, 2013, the Nigerian Bureau of Standards officially released the new SONCAP operating procedures. In the future, each independent third-party agency will no longer directly issue SONCAP certification. Instead, exporters will apply for product conformity certification (CoC) in the exporting country. The importer then applies for an SC certificate from the Nigerian Bureau of Standards (SON) with a valid CoC.

Several concepts in SONCAP certification:

During SONCAP certification, customers may mention these names: PC, SC, COC. There are some slight differences between these names, but in most cases they mean the same thing, that is, if you want to obtain compulsory certification for products to be sold in Nigeria, for imported products, you need to go through customs clearance at the Nigerian Customs. Let’s distinguish several concepts in detail:

• SON - the abbreviation of Standards organization of Nigeria, that is, Standards Organization of Nigeria. This is a Nigerian government agency, also known as the Nigeria Bureau of Standards. In January 2013, SON officially released the new SONCAP procedure with a revised full conformity assessment structure.

• SONCAP - the abbreviation of Standards organization of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programmer, that is, Nigeria Standards Organization Conformity Assessment Program. It can be understood that SONCAP is a program and basis issued by SON to evaluate whether products meet Nigeria's minimum safety standards.

• PC - the abbreviation of Product Certificate, which is mandatory. Obtaining the PC certificate is the first step to be completed in the SONCAP program. The SONCAP conformity assessment procedure requires that to obtain certification, you must first obtain a PC certificate before you can apply for a SONCAP certificate. It is also a prerequisite for Nigerian importers to obtain Form M. Some banks even require a PC certificate before issuing a letter of credit.

• FORM M-The importer uses the PC certificate to apply at the local bank. It is a form similar to the import declaration. It is also the necessary information for later application for the SONCAP certificate.

• SC - the abbreviation of SONCAP Certification, that is, SONCAP certificate. It is the certificate that the importer finally gets after applying for PC certificate and FORM M before shipment and submitting the bill of lading after shipment. It is also the certificate that is finally handed over to the customs for customs clearance.

• COC - the abbreviation of Certificate Of Conformity, that is, certificate of conformity, a single batch product certificate, valid for a single batch. This step has been eliminated in the latest process, but because it was included in the SONCAP program for a while, people still mention it often.

Applicable product range:

The products currently controlled by SONCAP are as follows:
• Toys • Electrical and electronic products that can be used by the public such as in residential, office buildings, retail, leisure and other environments.

Including, but not limited to, home appliances, IT products, communication products, lighting products, audio-visual products, etc.
• Used cars • Car spare parts
• Auto tires • Auto glass
• Automobile spare parts • Chemical products (such as motor oil, paint, asphalt, school chalk, kitchen utensils and tableware)
• Construction and building materials • Mechanical equipment and gas appliances (such as galvanized steel products, faucets and valves, ceramics and sanitary ware, suspended ceilings,

Gas tanks, kerosene stoves and hurricane lamps, aluminum products, mechanical backpacks, sprayers, electric pressure cookers, cement and plaster, etc.)
• Paper and stationery • Safety protection equipment (such as fire-fighting equipment, electronic safety equipment, etc.)
• Textiles and textile products • Footwear
• Medical equipment • Furniture
• Arts and crafts • Leather, plastic and rubber goods

The following products are not applicable to SONCAP:
• Food • Drugs (TCM)
• Medical examination equipment and machines, etc. • Chemicals used as raw materials
• Military sanitary ware and equipment • Goods classified as contraband by the Federal Government of Nigeria
• Used cars and other products

other:

Importers use SONCAP certificates to go to Nigeria Customs for customs clearance. When all controlled products arrive at Nigeria's checkpoints (ports, airports, land borders), if they do not have a SONCAP certificate, they will be refused release by the customs. The goods will be sampled and tested in accordance with Nigeria's requirements. , the exporter/importer will bear all costs (sampling, testing, port demurrage), and may eventually face the confiscation and destruction of the goods.