Sub-standard goods: SON, Customs mull new inspection agenda at ports

Worried by the circumvention of its procedures for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) and Certificates of Conformity by importers of sub-standard goods, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) may soon unveil new inspection measures at the ports to check such goods on arrival in the country.

Already, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have commenced an online data sharing initiative to check the influx of such goods in the country.

The initiative, which is being implemented through SON’s e-certificate platform, had seen the agencies collaborating and integrating SON’s e-certificate into the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS), while SON’s e-product certificate and SONCAP certificate are now being tied to the relevant processes for the generation of form M and generation of PAAR for clearance of goods at the port.

To further check the menace of such goods in the country, the SON and the NCS may collaborate on inspection of goods imported to ascertain the genuineness of claims made by some importers who may have circumvent the SONCAP procedures.

Speaking during a parley between the SON and NCS, the Director-General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu sought the support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) in assisting the agency in the realisation of its goals, especially with regards to getting rid of sub-standard goods from the environment.

According to Odumodu, measures have already been put in place by the SON in ensuring that only safe goods are imported into the country, adding that efforts of the NCS would be required in the examination process and inspection of goods at the ports.

He added that the SON has already profiled importers to check on irregular activities, nothing that containers without seals obtained from meeting necessary certification requirements may no longer be cleared at the sea ports with the support of the NCS.

“Nigeria has suffered a lot of rejection as a result of non-conformity of export products to international standards. The Customs is also involved in trade facilitation and we urge the NCS to save Nigeria from these embarrassments by ensuring that export items receive a certificate of analysis from the laboratories. This will further aid the realisation of zero rejections. We seek the support of the NCS in ensuring that the environment is safe”, Odumodu added.

On his part, Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali stated that with about 70 per cent of the NCS’ operations taking place in Lagos, the state cannot be ignored, adding that efforts are underway to address the concerns and also ensure a seamless collaboration between the two agencies.