Consumer Safety: SON warns manufacturers against fake product certification marks

*Farouk Salim, Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, warns manufacturers or producers inscribing ‘fake MANCAP marks’ on their products to stop such fraudulent acts, and get necessary certification of products to enable them compete favourably in both local and foreign  markets

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In line with its regulatory mandate to protect consumers from unsafe products, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged manufacturers or producers of products to ensure that their brands conform to the required standards in the West African country.

Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General of SON, handed down the caution  while presenting mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Certificates to five companies that have been consistent in the quality of their products in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital recently.

SON’s Product Authentication Marks

ConsumerConnect learnt Salim, represented at the event by Fred Akingbesote, South-East Regional Operational Director of the regulatory agency, also warned manufacturers of products that had inscribed fake MANCAP marks on their products to desist from such acts henceforth.

The Director-General disclosed that those into the fraudulent act would face the wrath of the law.

He equally reiterated the need for them to have necessary certification of products as this would enable such manufacturers or producers to compete favourably in the market both within and outside Nigeria, agency report said.

Benefits of MANCAP certification scheme

The SON Chief further stated: “MANCAP is a mandatory product certification scheme put in place by SON to ensure that all locally made products conform to relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) before such products are sold in the market or exported.

“For those whose products have been certified, ensure that you live up to the expectations because, the certificate issued to you can be withdrawn or suspended if your products fail to meet the minimum requirements.”

Salim urged the industry prayers: “Those yet to be certified should contact our office.

“The benefits of MANCAP certification include: to enhance business growth, encourages production of excellent quality products and healthy competition through consistence compliance to relevant standard.

“It also promote global competitiveness among domestic manufacturers among others.”

Speaking at the forum, Mrs. Maryrose Ugwueche, State Coordinator of SON in Ebonyi State, also urged the manufacturers to continue to maintain quality of products and standards for global markets.

Mrs. Ugwueche stressed the fact that in quality world, “quality is a journey and not a destination.

“The certification of your products, is a clear indication of how far you have come on this journey in conformity of your products to the Nigerian Industrial Standards.

“Note that you are required to uphold the standard attained.”

Esther David, Quality Assurance Manager of Vegas Restaurant and Bakery, speaking on behalf of the recipients, promised to work towards maintaining the MANCAP-certified status, according to report.

David acknowledged that “our interaction with SON has put us in a position to know that MANCAP certification is not a one-stop thing, and we promise to keep to the standards. We thank SON for the certificate.”

Among other Nigerian companies that received Certificates are Roban Store, Abakaliki branch, Vita-mater Oil Limited, Spring and Caelis Table Water and Joppa Table Water Limited.

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