SON REITERATES BENEFITS OF E-PRODUCTS REGISTRATION

Engr. Enebi Onucheyo (Standing) addressing the Stakeholders

Manufacturers, Importers and major distributors of products in Nigeria have been enjoined to take optimum advantage of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) electronic product registration scheme to further their business interests.

This admonition was given at a Stakeholders Forum organized by the SON Product Registration Unit for aluminium profiles, glass and accessories dealers association at the Aluminium Village, Dopemu, Agege in Lagos State recently.

Speaking on behalf of the Director General, Mr. Osita Aboloma the Head, Product Registration, Engr. Enebi Onucheyo stressed that the electronic products registration scheme was designed to generate accurate data and inventory of all products in the Nigerian Markets and the specified quality parameters. The scheme also ensures information on the Manufacturer, Importer or Distributor for traceability.

He enumerated the benefits of the scheme as including, time saving, unlike manual registration, helping to detect product imitation; improving consumer confidence and savings on product liability.

Others according to him include, ease of traceability; ease of identification in cases of consumer complaint, reduced human contact in the process of registration, and  unquantifiable mileage for registered products on the SON website.

Engr. Onucheyo enumerated the key responsibilities of roles players in the product value chain, stressing that the cumulative effect of each members diligent participation will ensure the growth of businesses, increased value to consumers and overall positive growth of the Nation’s economy.

According to him, the Manufacturer/Importer is responsible for registering his product and providing evidence to the Distributors who are to avoid stocking and selling unregistered products, while the Consumer also has the responsibility to make registered products their first choice.

Engr. Onucheyo listed documents required for electronic registration of products as including, company registration certificate; product pictures and literature; franchise agreement with the manufacturer by importer; power of attorney by distributors and trade mark certificate  by brand owners.

The SON Head of Product Registration stated that penalties for importing and stocking unregistered and substandard products under the SON Act No. 14 of 2015, include confiscation, prosecution, fines and possible imprisonment.

Welcoming participants and the SON Officials to the forum, Chairman of the Aluminium Profiles, Glass and Accessories Retailers Association, Alhaji Bolkas commended SON for the enlightenment initiative which he said will benefit members of the Association immensely.

Issues discussed during the interactive session included cost of registering products, the place of locally manufactured products under the scheme, homogeneity of products and the procedure for consumer complaint.

Responding, Engr. Onucheyo explained that cost of registration is electronically generated based on type and nature of product being registered; the Mandatory Conformity Assessment program takes care of locally manufactured products while batches of products may vary in technical parameters, thus necessitating that they are registered separately. He advised complainants to do so in writing with evidence of purchase and product to any of the SON State Offices nationwide.

Source: ISO