The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), on Thursday awarded its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification to 13 manufacturing companies in Kano state.
In his speech, the Director-General of SON, Malam Faruk Salim, represented by the regional coordinator, Mr. Usman Muhammad, said the MANCAP certification is a mandatory requirement for local manufacturers.
He stated that the MANCAP certification is a seal to show that a locally manufactured product has met the requirements of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) to protect the health and safety of consumers.
Salim said that the 13 manufacturers whose products received MANCAP certificates of conformity have gone through processes, procedures and rigorous journey and their products have been found fit for use.
The D-G, however, advised the recipients to ensure that the certification mark was applied only to the products that complied with the requirements.
He then warned that any violation of the product certification terms and conditions will attract serious consequence, including possible suspension or outright withdrawal of certification.
Earlier, the Kano state coordinator of SON, Malam Yunusa Muhammad, said that MANCAP programme was a product certification scheme implemented by the organization in 2006, and aimed at certifying locally-manufactured products to the minimum requirement of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS).
“Compliance with these standards ensures that all locally-manufactured goods conform to the minimum requirements of the relevant of NIS before being exposed for sale.
“Made-in-Nigeria products are strictly regulated both for promoting fair competition in the domestic and international markets and at the same time protecting well-being of Nigerian consumers,” he explained.
According to him, MANCAP award ceremony is crucial to the organization’s bid to increase awareness of the benefits of product certification with a special focus on the increasing number of (SMEs) in the country because they contribute significantly to the economy.
Muhammad urged the manufacturers not to rest on their oars and strive for quality and the deployment of every available continuous improvement tools to remain on track.
The coordinator noted that the products would be subjected to quarterly surveillance assessments in order to ensure they maintain consistency in their quality assurance processes.
He then advised other manufacturers who have not certified their products to do so without further delay, saying that in highly competitive local and global markets it is quality that will separate the boys from the men.
Olayinka Ade of Popular farms and mills limited, who spoke to NAN after receiving his certificate, said it was not easy to meet the standard requirements but thanked God that his company was able to earn the certification.
Another recipient, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi of ABY lubricants, promised to work towards maintaining the MANCAP certified status.
Abdullahi who said that MANCAP certification was not a one-stop thing, promised to keep the set standards at all times.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recipients of the MANCAP certificates cut across different sectors, including manufacturers of paints, chemicals, as well as household items and consumables.
NAN reports that representatives of police, DSS, NSCDC, Federal ministry of trade and investment, Kano Consumers Protection Council and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commissions as well as local manufactures were present at the event.
