The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SON

  • SON to remove unregistered products from markets next month

    SON to remove unregistered products from markets next month

    • To hold Quality Summit

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON), said it would start removing all unregistered products from the market by the end of November.

    The Director General, Dr Joseph Odumodu, said SON will from next month start removing any product that is not registered with it, adding that the new Act of the SON will be out before the end of the year.

    He said in line with its plans to ensure standardisation, the body has trained more than 2,000 SMEs operators, adding that SON will soon be empowered to start prosecuting those who are dealing a substandard products.

    “The bill is already with the National Assembly. Apart from this, we will be publishing companies which meet standardisation. The agency will do everything to ensure standardisation in this country, “he said.

    Also speaking at the event, the President, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce , Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr Ademola Ajayi, said the Organised Private Sector is in support of the SON initiative, adding that the OPS will also lend its input on the bill sent to the National Assembly by the SON.

    “We are fully in support of your activities and we urge you to please carry on the good work. Infact, we are also working on a bill which has to do with prosecuting those dealing in substandard products. Now that we are aware that you have sent one to the National Assembly, we will send our own thinking to you,” he said.

    Meanwhile, SON said it would host the first Nigeria Quality Summit at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja, next week, with the theme: ‘Less waste, better result: Standards Increase Efficiency.’

    The one day event will pull together captains of industries and agencies, as well as Quality Control Directors for the purpose of learning first hand from global authorities and quality assurance leaders from emerging markets.

    Experts said if a tenth of Nigeria’s SMEs and conglomerates can learn and apply global standards and become efficient, they would increase productivity, profits, work force and effectively fill the void the current zero-tolerance to substandard goods campaign would create, and take control of the market currently dominated by foreign goods.

  • SON embarks on e-registration of products

    TO simplify the process of products registration, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has introduced e-registration on its website.

    This innovation is aimed at ensuring that genuine manufacturers and dealers experience less difficulty in getting their products registered.

    According to the agency, the move is also to ensure the success of its campaign of zero tolerance for substandard products, which the agency has carried to the various sectoral groups and parts of the country since July 2011, when it was launched

    On the e-registration, the Director-General, Dr Joseph Odumodu, in a statement, said the strategy is targeted at arresting the sale and production of unwholesome and substandard products. Besides, he said, it would make registration of consumer products compulsory for manufacturers before such could be displayed on shelves.

    Explaining the import of the initiative, he said the process would involve the launch of product identification marks on products within the category under review, stressing that any product without proper identification marks would not be allowed to be sold in the country.

    He said: “This is something we believe would help the manufacturers, the dealers and SON. It is all in the bid to ensure safer products, safer Nigerians and a healthier economy.”

    Odumodu said the agency was leveraging opportunities and platforms to make its work easier for the regulator and the larger society.

    He reaffirmed the determination of the agency to reduce the prevalence of substandard products from 60 per cent to about 30 per cent in three months. He added that the new scheme would involve products already in the market, including electric bulbs, stabilisers, tyres, electric fittings, generators, building materials and toys.

    Listing the advantages of e-registration, Odumodu said: “It would assist us in developing a data base of consumer products in the country. The scheme will enhance traceability in our compliance monitoring activities that is making it easy for us to trace any product and its manufacturer anytime the need arises.”

    He said in addition, the new scheme, apart from protecting consumers would also create employment and wealth.