SON Introduces Product Authentication Model to Aid Manufacturers, Importers, Consumers
SON DG
By Our Reporter
A product authentication model (PAM) has been introduced by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in a move to check substandard products in the country.
PAM according to SON is part of the efforts to assist manufacturers, importers and even consumers verify the source and quality of products in the market.
Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, explained on Tuesday that the latest move was to ensure that all products by manufacturers and importers meet necessary requirements in terms of standards.
Salim at a sensitization programme for stakeholders said this was a way of promoting public safety of lives and security as well as improve the marketability of Nigerian products in other parts of the world.
He said PAM has the benefits of protecting genuine manufacturers and importers from being faked and counterfeiting of already certified products.
He added that so far the organization has reduced importation
and manufacturing of substandard products in the country following the introduction of mandatory conformity assessment program, MANCAP and SON conformity assessment program, SONCAP.
But he admitted that this has not completely stopped the importation, manufacturing and distribution of substandard products, adding that some substandard products come into the country through smuggling.
He described PAM as a digital technology that will complement both SONCAP and MANCAP in the fight against substandard and counterfeit products.
He explained, “This scheme places power to detect or reject substandard goods in the hands of our consumers and users of a product.
“It simply uses a QR code or the dial of smart number SMS to 281 to verify the product and to see when the product was made, if it has expiration date, when it’s expiring, where it is made and such information are necessary for the consumer to either buy the product or not to buy.
“This is different from the other types of products that are used by other organizations in the country just like the NAFDAC, where you have to buy the product, scratch the box and then when you discover that it’s fake, you are helpless. You already bought the product.
“You now have to go back and fight with the person who sold it to you. But with PAM, with your smartphone, before you buy the product, you scan it to verify if the product is okay for you to buy or not to buy.
“It will now put SON in a better position to protect our fellow citizens and ensure that we all get value for our money.
“Basically, the benefits include protection of genuine manufacturers and importers from faking and counterfeiting of their certified products.
“Promotion of a level play field in the market for both locally manufactured and imported products certified by some provision of assurance to consumers on products and guaranteed value for money.
“Also, this is part of the programs we are doing at SON to make sure our industries and our genuine importers are protected. We are currently with the National Assembly, the ninth National Assembly. We like to definitely thank them for cooperating with us to adjust our Act to put more penalties for people faking especially like endangering products. Most of the time they get fines and the level of fines are so small because this Act was done almost eight years ago.
“So, we went back to the National Assembly and in their wisdom they agreed with us and we are processing right now as we speak. The change of the law where some products are left endangering will require immediate jail terms instead of fines.
“And also we are working very seriously and assiduously to make sure we continue to protect our consumers and our manufacturers from substandard goods that are destroying our manufacturing base as a country. So we recognize set standards and regulate certain areas of the products in the country. We will play our part and protect our people and be sure everybody is protected. That’s our responsibility and we take that serious. We do hope that our industrial base will increase because our current situation where we have a lot of educated youth walking around the country looking for work and our industries are folding is not acceptable.
“We still have a long way to go in this process, but we’re very proud of the steps we’re making. And we are definitely reassuring the public that SON will continue creating programs like this to protect both our families and our people in addition to our industry, make sure everybody succeeds.
“This is very important, especially with the African Free Trade Area where our neighboring countries and even countries a little farther from Africa will bring in their products without any serious checks except for their certification. So we want our products to be competitive in our neighboring countries too.
“We are working with other agencies around Africa to make sure that whenever we certify our products, we will just have a smooth sailing to the neighboring countries where you will not be checked again, where they will want to use that as an excuse particularly to prevent you from doing your businesses.
“The journey towards the actualization of this innovation has been long, arduous, and will not have been successful without the strong support and encouragement of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Industry, trade and investment”.
A product authentication model (PAM) has been introduced by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in a move to check substandard products in the country.
PAM according to SON is part of the efforts to assist manufacturers, importers and even consumers verify the source and quality of products in the market.
Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, explained on Tuesday that the latest move was to ensure that all products by manufacturers and importers meet necessary requirements in terms of standards.
Salim at a sensitization programme for stakeholders said this was a way of promoting public safety of lives and security as well as improve the marketability of Nigerian products in other parts of the world.
He said PAM has the benefits of protecting genuine manufacturers and importers from being faked and counterfeiting of already certified products.
He added that so far the organization has reduced importation
and manufacturing of substandard products in the country following the introduction of mandatory conformity assessment program, MANCAP and SON conformity assessment program, SONCAP.
But he admitted that this has not completely stopped the importation, manufacturing and distribution of substandard products, adding that some substandard products come into the country through smuggling.
He described PAM as a digital technology that will complement both SONCAP and MANCAP in the fight against substandard and counterfeit products.
He explained, “This scheme places power to detect or reject substandard goods in the hands of our consumers and users of a product.
“It simply uses a QR code or the dial of smart number SMS to 281 to verify the product and to see when the product was made, if it has expiration date, when it’s expiring, where it is made and such information are necessary for the consumer to either buy the product or not to buy.
“This is different from the other types of products that are used by other organizations in the country just like the NAFDAC, where you have to buy the product, scratch the box and then when you discover that it’s fake, you are helpless. You already bought the product.
“You now have to go back and fight with the person who sold it to you. But with PAM, with your smartphone, before you buy the product, you scan it to verify if the product is okay for you to buy or not to buy.
“It will now put SON in a better position to protect our fellow citizens and ensure that we all get value for our money.
“Basically, the benefits include protection of genuine manufacturers and importers from faking and counterfeiting of their certified products.
“Promotion of a level play field in the market for both locally manufactured and imported products certified by some provision of assurance to consumers on products and guaranteed value for money.
“Also, this is part of the programs we are doing at SON to make sure our industries and our genuine importers are protected. We are currently with the National Assembly, the ninth National Assembly. We like to definitely thank them for cooperating with us to adjust our Act to put more penalties for people faking especially like endangering products. Most of the time they get fines and the level of fines are so small because this Act was done almost eight years ago.
“So, we went back to the National Assembly and in their wisdom they agreed with us and we are processing right now as we speak. The change of the law where some products are left endangering will require immediate jail terms instead of fines.
“And also we are working very seriously and assiduously to make sure we continue to protect our consumers and our manufacturers from substandard goods that are destroying our manufacturing base as a country. So we recognize set standards and regulate certain areas of the products in the country. We will play our part and protect our people and be sure everybody is protected. That’s our responsibility and we take that serious. We do hope that our industrial base will increase because our current situation where we have a lot of educated youth walking around the country looking for work and our industries are folding is not acceptable.
“We still have a long way to go in this process, but we’re very proud of the steps we’re making. And we are definitely reassuring the public that SON will continue creating programs like this to protect both our families and our people in addition to our industry, make sure everybody succeeds.
“This is very important, especially with the African Free Trade Area where our neighboring countries and even countries a little farther from Africa will bring in their products without any serious checks except for their certification. So we want our products to be competitive in our neighboring countries too.
“We are working with other agencies around Africa to make sure that whenever we certify our products, we will just have a smooth sailing to the neighboring countries where you will not be checked again, where they will want to use that as an excuse particularly to prevent you from doing your businesses.
“The journey towards the actualization of this innovation has been long, arduous, and will not have been successful without the strong support and encouragement of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Industry, trade and investment”.
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