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Q1. What does SONCAP
stand for? |
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SONCAP stands for
the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment
Program.
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Q2. What is the objective of
SONCAP? |
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The SONCAP is a
product conformity scheme whose objective is to help ensure
that products exported to Nigeria meet minimum safety
requirements. This will help ensure that Nigerian consumers
are not exposed to potentially unsafe and sub-standard
goods.
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Q3. What products are covered by
the SONCAP? |
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Products covered
by the SONCAP are termed Regulated Products. The Regulated
Products are shown below and will be refined from time to
time to ensure SONCAP is meeting its objective,
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1. |
Toys |
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2. |
Electrical and
electronic products that could be used by members of
the public whether in their homes or otherwise e.g
in residential, office, retail, leisure etc
environments. Examples include, but are not limited
to, household appliances, IT products, communication
products, lighting products, audio-visual products
etc. |
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3. |
Used Motor vehicles |
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4. |
Vehicle spare parts
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5. |
Motor vehicle tyres |
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6. |
Automotive glass |
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7. |
Vehicle spare parts |
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8. |
Chemical products (such
as motor oils, paints, bitumen, school chalk,
kitchenware, tableware and dinnerware, tobacco and
tobacco products) |
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9. |
Construction Material,
Mechanical Devices and Gas Appliances (such as
galvanised steel products, taps and valves, ceramic
and sanitaryware, false ceilings, gas cylinders,
kerosene stoves and hurricane lamps, aluminium
products, Mechanical Backpack Sprayers, pressure
cookers, cement and gypsum etc) |
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10. |
Paper and stationery
items |
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11. |
Protective Safety
Equipment (Such As Fire Fighting Equipment,
Electronic Security Equipment Etc) |
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12. |
Mosquito nets |
Click here for a detailed list of regulated products
that are covered within the SONCAP Programme.
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Q4. What is the relationship
between SONCAP and PSI? |
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For Regulated
Products, SONCAP is independent of and additional to any
other import processes e.g. PSI.
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Q5. What will it cost to comply
with SONCAP? |
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The fees for
demonstrating compliance with SONCAP are detailed within the
"Guidelines for Exporters" document which can be obtained
from SON or your local SON Country Office or from http://www.soncap.com/downloads.html.
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Q6. What are the benefits of
SONCAP to Nigeria? |
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SONCAP will
enhance the protection of the Nigerian consumer from unsafe
and sub-standard products. In addition it will help Nigerian
manufacturers to compete on a level playing field with
imports since it will help prevent the import of products
which are often cheaper due to their non compliance with
safety standards.
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Q7. What will happen if SONCAP is
not complied with? |
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Regulated Products
arriving at Nigerian ports without the necessary Certificate
required by SONCAP may be rejected at the port and refused
release. The importer/exporter will then be required to
re-export the goods or face delays while the goods are
sampled and then tested to safety standards. The
exporter/importer will be expected to bear all expenses
related to this activity.
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Q8. When does SONCAP come into
force? |
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The SONCAP has
been in a voluntary transition period since 01 March 2005.
From 01 September 2005 SONCAP will become mandatory for
products within its scope.
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Q9. Who enforces the SONCAP?
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The SONCAP will be
enforced by the SON Enforcement Unit. The presentation of
SONCAP Certification , which consists of a Product
Certificate and a SONCAP Certificate will be the means
through which the SONCAP will be enforced. Both of these
items are mandatory clearance documents for Regulated
Products in addition to any PSI documentation.
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Q10. Who has to demonstrate
compliance with the SONCAP? |
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The responsibility
for demonstrating compliance lies with the exporter to
Nigeria. The compliance process should be undertaken in the
country of export.
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Q11. How do exporters show
compliance with the SONCAP? |
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Compliance with
the SONCAP is a two stage process.
The first stage, Product Certification, is applicable only
the first time that you wish to export a particular type or
model of product. A Product Certificate will be issued after
the submission of an acceptable Test Report to the local SON
Country Office. The resulting Product Certificate can be
valid for up to three years. The second stage, SONCAP
Certification, is applicable on a shipment by shipment
basis.
The detailed process is contained within the "Guidelines for
Exporters" document which can be obtained from SON or your
local SON Country Office or from our
Downloads
section.
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Q12. From where can the required
Certificates be obtained? |
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SON have
established a global network of SON Country Offices in all
the major trading partners of Nigeria. All activities
related to SONCAP must be performed in the country of export
by the exporter through the SON Country Office with
geographical responsibility for that country of export
closest to the Exporter. The SON Country Office responsible
for any given country can be found in
Geographic Areas of Responsibility for SONCOs.pdf.
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Q13. With whom can I speak to find
out further information about the SONCAP? |
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You can speak to
your nearest SON Country Office whose contact details can be
found at
SON
Country Offices.pdf.
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