SON Introduces Product Authentication Mark To Curb Substandard Imported Goods

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has disclosed plans to launch Product Authentication Mark (PAM) to curb the influx of substandard imported goods into the country.

Speaking at a stakeholders sensitisation forum on PAM in Lagos, the director general, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, stated that, PAM was specifically developed to checkmate imported goods into the country.

According to him, imported goods account for over 80 per cent of substandard goods into the country.

The SON boss added that the introduction of PAM is a declaration of war against substandard goods while also reaffirming the agency’s zero tolerance for substandard goods.

He, however, urged local manufacturers to key into the initiative, pointing out that, it is the only way to increase consumers’ confidence, profitability and market share.

Salim said, excluding local manufacturers from the initiative was to prevent any additional cost for manufacturers, saying, the nation’s manufacturing sector is already battling with substandard goods in the country and myriads of challenges hindering the sector’s productivity.

“The original target group are imported finished products. Local manufacturers are free to join voluntary because we do not want to increase to their cost of production.

“So, in order for us to have peace, we decided not to involve the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), but they can join voluntarily. What we hope to do eventually is that if the manufacturer sees the benefit of PAM with importers, they will eventually join us because the programme is very useful for anyone producing authentic and standard goods, it helps to sell goods, it helps customers identify your products and this is good for business,” he stressed.

Salim said: “this particular mark is like a naira mark, but we are planning to use specialised machines, papers, security codes. Our inspectorate, compliance department are always there and with the help of our customers, anybody breaking the rules would be prosecuted, their goods would be seized and the court will give us permission to destroy those goods. The mark is just an additional help to our customers and the public at large.”

He, however, advised dealers in substandard goods to desist in the act of shortchanging Nigerians with goods that have no economic value, saying, SON is always on top of its game to checkmate activities of unscrupulous elements in the country.

He also said, plans are underway to upgrade the SON Act, pointing out that, there is going to be a public hearing in the National Assembly with hopes that the bill is passed and signed by Mr. President or the new administration.

In the same vein, the director, Product Certification, SON, Engr. Onucheyo Enebi, said the introduction of PAM became necessary because the agency has been inundated with complaints from consumers over the influx of substandard goods into the country.

According to him,”we have come to realise that customers after buying products do not get value for their money, so this initiative will give the buyers opportunities to confirm the authenticity of the product before even paying for it. The mark has over 10 elements in it that it detects if a product is authentic or not, so the moment you scan with your QR code, all information about the product would be displayed. It will give you an instant response. All you have to do is send an SMS to 281 or scan the QR code with your Android or IOS phone and you will get an instant response.”

“I want to encourage Nigerians that whenever they scan a product and you realise that the product is substandard, please do not keep quiet, but raise an alarm so that the relevant agencies can carry out an enforcement exercise,” he advised.

Similarly, the president, MAN, Otunba Meshioye Francis represented by the director, Corporate Services Division, Ambrose Oruche, said MAN has thrown its full weight behind SON’s move to introduce PAM in its bid to checkmate the influx of substandard goods into the country.

He said, the move is a welcome development, especially, at a time when most economies of the world are operating a borderless trade, stressing that , the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) on the cards, PAM would go a long way to help prevent Nigerian from being a dumping ground for inferior goods.