The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) will from concluding plans to roll July 1 roll out its newest product standardisation scheme, the Product Authentication Mark (PAM).
It’s part of efforts to rid the country’s markets of fake and substandard products whether imported or locally manufactured. PAM is for all SON-regulated products and will complement the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCA), which is a product authentication initiative for imported products and Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), which is for locally made products.
is a digital product authentication scheme, which employs the use of highly safety embedded QR Code to verify the authenticity of the product by the consumer, whether imported or produced locally before buying it.
Speaking on Monday at a one-day Stakeholders’ Sensitisation on the PAM, at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, Director General/CEO of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, stressed that the scheme was designed to enhance product safety, aims at making consumers verify the authenticity of the product even before paying for it.
Under this initiative, all SON-regulated products would bear a SON sticker containing the QR Code. This initiative places the power to the direct consumer to detect fake and substandard product and report to the SON by simply scanning a QR code with his or her smart phone or send an SMS to 281 to authenticate the product.
The director general who was represented by the Director, Product Certification department of SON, Engr. Onucheyo Enebi, noted that the new scheme was also designed to protect both the interest of the manufacturers in the sense that it would forestall the faking of their products and that of the consumers as it will ensure that they get the right product they are paying for.
The SON boss declared that imported goods constitute over 80 per cent of substandard products in Nigerian markets and maintained that strict adherence to the PAM initiative would help curb the influx of such substandard products, as it would enable the consumers to verify their authenticity before buying them.
In his words: “The PAM initiative was introduced by SON to enable consumers verify the authenticity of all SON-regulated products in the markets in our continuous efforts to curb the influx of substandard imported goods into the Country. Imported goods account for over 80 per cent of substandard goods in the country. The nation’s manufacturing industry is already battling with the lingering effect that substandard goods have dealt on our economy and the myriads of challenges hindering the sector’s productivity.
“The task to sanitise our industries and markets is more urgent than ever before. In line with its mandate and backed with the provisions of the SON Act 2015, to amongst others facilitate trade and ensure that all imported and manufactured products meet the requirements of the relevant standards thereby promoting public safety, improve the lives and security of the citizens of Nigeria, the Organisation over the years has substantially reduced the importation, manufacturing and distribution of substandard products in the country through itsy Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme MANCAP and Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme SONCAP schemes respectively.”
Okeke lamented that in spite of the efforts of the organisation, substandard products are still being imported or manufactured and distributed in the country through the use of fake SON stickers on non-certified products amongst others.
He stated that in order to curb this disturbing occurrence in the country, the Organisation introduced the Product Authentication Mark to facilitate the verification of the source and quality products in the Nigerian market.
According to him, PAM is a digital technology to complement the SON Conformity Assessment Programmes (SONCAP and MANCAP) in furtherance of the fight against Substandard and counterfeit products in Nigeria.
He further explained that the scheme places the power to detect, reject and report substandard goods in Nigerian markets in the hands of the consumers by simply scanning a QR code with their smart phone or sending an SMS to 281 before they buy.
He restated that it will no doubt better position SON to protect fellow citizens and ensure that people get value for their money.
“This scheme will place Nigeria at advantageous position at this time in history when Africa is looking to operate a borderless trade, with the actualisation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement AfCFTA, PAM would go a long way to ensure that Nigeria is not a dumping ground for substandard/inferior goods”, the DG further stated.
He appreciated the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment under the leadership of the Minister, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite for its support and encouragement, assuring that the organisation would continue in its resolve to rid the country of fake and substandard goods.
PHOTO: Director General/CEO, SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke.