Director General, SON,Osita Aboloma.
By Barnabas Esiet.
As part of efforts to further protect Nigerian consumers and genuine importers from fake and adulterated products, the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, has introduced Product Authentication Mark, PAM, which takes effect from January 2020.
In a statement, SON said the introduction of PAM is “to ensure the authenticity and traceability of products certified to have met the requirements of the relevant Nigeria Industrial Standards or other approved specifications in the country, in line with Section 5 of the SON Act No. 14 of 2015.”
According to the statement, PAM would; provide assurance to Nigerian Consumers on products and guarantee value for money, ensure effective control of non-complying products in the Nigerian Markets and protect genuine Importers from faking /product adulteration by ensuring that only SONCAP certified products are in the markets in the long run.
“Importers of SONCAP Certified products shall apply for issuance of PAM by completing an application form online, on SON website www.son.gov.ng., application for PAM Stickers must be submitted before SON final clearance of the goods from the Ports of Entry.” The statement further read.
For MANCAP certified products, SON noted that voluntary application for PAM shall be submitted prior to the production of every batch of product with details of certification information and the Manufacturer shall provide half year estimated quantities of certified products retail/sales unit expected to be produced and pay for same.
Importers or their authorized representative are expected to affix the Product Authentication Mark (PAM) only on retail units of certified products according to the terms and conditions for use of the Marks.
“Any person, organization or other corporate body that affix PAM on a product not authorized to bear the Mark e.g. because there is no record of the product in question having been certified is liable for criminal action in accordance with the SON Act 14 of 2015 of Nigeria.” SON warned.
Imported products already in the market are allowed to be sold without the new PAM up to 31st October 2020. “No imported product subject to this regulation will be allowed for sale in Nigerian markets without the PAM after 31st October 2020.”
Importers with huge old stock likely to be in the market after the above dateline are advised to apply and acquire the new Product Authentication Mark from SON.
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