NIGERIA – The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued certificates of Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) to 12 companies operating in Kano as a way of improving product standardization.

The Director General of the Agency Malam Faruk Salim noted that the certificate is not a ‘cash and carry’ exercise, rather a scientific approach to ensure all facets of production are compiled with relevant standards.

Represented by the Regional Director of the SON, Mr. Albert Wilberforce, he said the issuance of the certificate was meant to ensure that all locally-made products complied with relevant National Industrial Standards (NIS) prior to their being offered to consumers.

“This will create sanity and ensure safety of products offered for public consumption,’’ he said.

The State coordinator, Kano state office of SON, Kasssim Muhammed-Yahaya, said the programme is a continuous inspection and correction efforts to confront standard issues.

On his part, the Director Administration, Kano State Consumer Protection Council, Sambo Illiyasu, said the agency will sustain its partnership with SON in making companies produce standard products.

The companies include Aminu Dawaki Oil Ltd., Amarava Agro Process, Creative El-Matador, Continental Fertilizer Ltd., Joyreap Foods and Beverages Company and Kalamu Foods and Allied Industries.

Others are Prime Waves, Mafa Rice Ltd., Namalele Petrochemicals Ltd., Northern Nigeria Flour Mills, Shenzhen Global Services and Saura Rice Mills Ltd, as reported by tbi Africa.

The SON boss made it clear that the organisation would not hesitate to withdraw the certificate from any company whose production standards fell below stipulation after the award of the certificates.

He urged Nigerians to always patronize SON-certified products as they were safer and gave value for money. Such patronage, he said, would also boost the economy and create employment opportunities.

In his remarks, Sambo Illiyasu, Director, Administration at the Kano State Consumer Protection Council said it would continue to partner with SON to encourage companies to produce standard products.

Representative of one of the companies who spoke on behalf of others, Malam Ibrahim Muhammed, thanked SON for the certificates and promised that the companies would continue to improve on product quality.

 

MANCAP Certification

MANCAP is a mandatory product certification scheme put in place by SON to ensure that all locally manufactured products in the country conform to the relevant NIS, before such products are presented for sale in the market or exported.

Started in 2006, it promotes fair competition at both domestic and international markets, as well as safeguards the safety and health of consumers in the overall interest of promoting economic and industrial development of Nigeria.

A MANCAP certificate is valid for three years after which the product must undergo recertification.

The MANCAP logo is to be fixed on the smallest unit pack of the product after which the product can be introduced into the market for sale.

The product is monitored through periodic factory inspections and testing to ensure consistent compliance to the Nigerian Industrial Standard by SON officials.

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