Regulatory Alerts2013-07-30 | TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/008New Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP)
The Central Bank of Nigeria's Trade & Exchange Department has announced revisions to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) effective 15th February 2013. Four international accredited firms – China Certification and Inspection Company Ltd, COTECNA Inspection Nigeria Ltd, SGS, and Swede Control International Ltd – have been appointed to carry out inspection, testing, and certification of regulated products offshore on behalf of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). These firms will be responsible for issuing product certificates for overseas manufacturers/suppliers/traders, a requirement for the registration of Form 'M' for SONCAP-regulated goods. The list of exempted products has been updated to include food products, drugs, medical supplies not including equipment and machines, chemicals used as raw materials, military wares & equipment, contraband items, and used products other than automobiles. Bonafide manufacturers who wish to import machinery or related spare parts must obtain a permit from SON. Only product certificates issued by the appointed international firms shall be accepted for approval of Form 'M' by banks for SONCAP-regulated products starting from 15th February 2013.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA Corporate Head Office Central Business District P.M.B. 0187, Garki, Abuja, FCT TRADE & EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT Tel: .............................
09-61637804 09-61637802 Fax : ........
E-mail address:ted@cbn.gov.ng Our Ref: TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/008 July 30, 2013 To: ALL AUTHORISED DEALERS, NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE, SCANNING & RISK SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC NEW STANDARDS ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (SONCAP) Further to the Circular ref: TED/FEM/GEN/FPC/01/095 dated June 5, 2009 on the above subject, we write to inform all Authorised Dealers and the general public that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) has been reviewed with effect from 15T February 2013. Accordingly, four International Accredited Firms have been appointed to carry our inspection, test and certify regulated products on behalf of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) offshore. These are; 1. China Certification and Inspection Company Ltd (CCIC) 2. COTECNA Inspection Nigeria Ltd (COTECNA) 3. Swede Control International Ltd (INTERTEK) 4. Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) The International Accredited Firms shall be responsible for the issuance of Product Certificate(s) to overseas manufacturers/suppliers/traders and the document shall be a requirement for the registration of Form 'M' for SONCAP regulated products.
Similarly, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria will henceforth be responsible for the issuance of SONCAP certificate(s) on arrival of goods at the ports as part of documentation for customs clearance.
Furthermore, the list of products exempted from SONCAP certification has been updated as follows: a. Food products b. Drugs (Medicines) c. Medicals other than equipment and machines d. Chemicals used as raw materials by bonafide manufacturers e. Military wares & equipment f. Goods classified as contraband by the Federal; Government of Nigeria g. Used Products other than automobiles Bonafide manufacturers who intend to import machinery or related spare parts are advised to apply to SON for a permit to enable them import. For the avoidance of doubt, only product certificates issued by the approved International Accredited Firms shall be accepted for approval of Form 'M' by banks for SONCAP regulated products with effect from the date of the revision of the SONCAP stated above.
Andreadon BATARI MUSA DIRECTOR TRADE & EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT