(i) (a) Standards Development Activities:
(b) Participation in ISO TC
(c) National Technical Committee Meetings

(ii) SON TECHNICAL LIBRARY

During the period under review, activities carried out in the unit included among others:
- providing services to staff and outside clientele.
- Up-dating standard catalogue edition update of NIS and production of the CD version of the catalogue.
- Participation in Regional Conference organised by West African Library Association in Accra, Ghana.
- Creation of condusive environment for library users/patrons.
- Receipt of standards and other normative documents from other World Standards Bodies. (List the documents and country of donors for records
- Re-organisation of unit into efficient operational sections.
- The generation and maintenance of statistical records of library activities for management’s periodical appraisal and evaluation was initiated.
(iii) ARSO/ECOWAS HARMONIZATION & ECOWAS TRADE LIBERALIZATION SCHEME UNIT

GHANA-NIGERIA ECOWAS FAST TRACK INITIATIVE

Since year 2000, Ghana - Nigeria initiatives has come a long way since the plan of action for the establishment of Free Trade Areas/Free movement of trade across the borders. Under this initiative, activities of the unit focused on collaboration between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Ghana Standards Board during the year. Areas of collaboration included:
(i) Harmonization of Standards for Products and Services
In this area, Ghana and Nigeria have exchanged eleven basic documents which formed the reference working documents in the Harmonization work. The documents exchanged during the year were:

- List of Approved Products under the ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme. Nigeria - 169/Ghana - 103

- List of Products common to both countries for which Standard can be Harmonized immediately.

- List of Available Standard for common product-range (Ghana, 36 Nig. 25)

- List of Ghana Standard for common Products

- List of Nigeria Industrial Standards for Products peculiar to Nigeria.

- List of Ghana Standard for products peculiar to Ghana.

- Textiles Specification for Traditional African Prints GS 124:1989

- Specification for cotton tie & dye fabrics GS 160:1955

- Specification for Cotton shirting suitable for School Uniform GS 162: 195

- Specification for Polypropylene woven sack GS 118: 1952
- Specification for woven Cotton Drill GS 161: 1995
There are future plans to exchange Standardization work programs and standards that are still in the draft stages for comments of other stakeholders.

(ii) Exchange of Information on Enforcement of Standards

Recognizing that if standards are harmonized, differing enforcement strategies may render them ineffective, exchange of information on enforcement of strategies was to enable each country moderate its strategies such that they will not pose difficulty in the path of import from collaboratory countries. These discussions are still going on.

(iii) Enlightenment of Manufacturers On the Need for Quality Concern for Exports

In this area, SON used opportunity of the Quality Assurance activities and symposium organised before week of October 14 to enlighten the stakeholders.

(iv) Mutual Recognition Agreement for Inspection and Test Report and Certificate for Consignment

It was realised that some operating infrastructures are very expensive and may not yield good returns when underutilized. One of such infrastructure is the Metrology Laboratory and in the collaborative experience it was considered that if this facility exists in one country in the sub-region, it could serve the needs of some other close countries. Issues related to this are still being considered.

Exchange and Training Manpower in Areas of Expertise/Competence, e.g Physical Laboratory for Calibration and Quality and Environment Management

While it has been accepted that Ghana has some expertise in the field of the Physical Science, particularly in Metrology, Nigeria can claim a substantial competence and experience in Quality and Environmental Management Systems of ISO 9000 and ISO 14,000 Standards. Both organisations have offered each other assistance in various fields of specialization. *These offers are however still to be taken up. (Explain)

(K) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
A number of cooperation projects were initiated during 2003.
(i) Nigeria-Algeria (Aligers): Discussions were held on draft MRA for Standardisation with IANOR and the draft MRA for Quality Control with CCQE. The two agencies are to be invited when NAFDAC completed the vetting procedure for food and industrial chemicals documents

(ii) Nigeria – India (Delhi): Draft proposals were exchanged during the Joint Commission held in November copy of MOU from BIS is for further study and comments.

(iii) Nigeria-Argentina: Draft proposals MRA was forwarded as requested by the Ambassador of Argentina through diplomatic channel. The SON representative at ISO General Assembly also initiated discussion on cooperation matters.

(iv) Nigeria-Cuba (Abuja): Discussion revealed Sugar and Vaccines as major interests however a proposal was sent to the Cuban Standards Bureau on cooperation matters.

(v) Nigeria – South Africa (Lagos): Further discussion on BNC level held to explore areas of cooperation relevant to promotion of trade. Timetable for execution of projects was agreed

(vi) Other MRAs proposed and sent through diplomatic channel
- Nigeria – Sweden
- Nigeria – China
- Nigeria – Morocco

(vii) SON – National Planning Commission

(viii) Nigeria Committee on Trade Procedures (NITPRO)

SON was on the national delegation to the meetings held in Seoul and Geneva in November where trade facilitation issues were discussed.