The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has been admitted into the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) Technical Committee, a development expected to strengthen the certification of Nigerian products for international markets and boost non-oil exports.
SON disclosed this in a statement signed by its management, describing the development as a recognition of its statutory responsibility for ensuring the quality, safety and conformity of products manufactured in Nigeria, particularly those destined for export markets.
According to the agency, its inclusion in the committee will strengthen the integration of export conformity assessment into Nigeria’s trade framework and enhance coordination among government agencies responsible for export supervision.
The development is also expected to facilitate the integration of SON’s Export Certificate Programme (SONEXCAP) into the National Single Window, thereby improving efficiency in export documentation, certification and regulatory processes.
SON said its membership of the technical committee goes beyond institutional recognition, noting that it would help improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products in international markets and strengthen confidence in goods made in the country.
The agency added that the move would contribute to the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy through increased non-oil exports.
The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme was established under the Pre-shipment Inspection of Exports Act of 1996 to ensure that goods exported from Nigeria undergo inspection before shipment by government-appointed inspection agents.
The scheme provides a framework for supervising exports and ensuring compliance with applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
Its scope was subsequently expanded in 2007 to accommodate additional products and strengthen the country’s export supervision framework.
SON’s participation in the NESS Technical Committee is expected to deepen the agency’s involvement in export quality assurance and promote greater alignment between Nigerian product standards and international market requirements.
Comment here