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SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

To start with, the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) is a mandatory product certification scheme put in place by SON in line with the provision of SON enabling act 56 of 1971 (as amended) to ensure that all locally manufactured products in the country conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) before such products are presented for sale in the market.

In fact,all products manufactured in Nigeria shall comply with the minimum requirements of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) and relevant Code of practice where applicable.

MANCAP Compliance Procedures:

The procedures for MANCAP certification involve inspection of the production processes, sampling and testing of the products against the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) to confirm compliance.

The manufacturer is expected to:

Contact the nearest SON State Offices/SON Headquarters or SON Website (www.son.gov.ng) for information on product certification requirements;

Obtain copies of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards for the product(s) to guide compliance of the product to the relevant standard;

Put in place necessary quality control facilities and quality assurance system that would ensure consistent production and monitoring of the product’s quality;

Purchase MANCAP application Form on-line or from the nearest State Office, complete the form and submit on-line or return back to the State Office with copy of CAC Registration Certificate;

SON: THE MANDATORY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (MANCAP) – UPDATED

Agree date of inspection of the factory with the concerned SON State Office and prepare for inspection of production processes, quality assurance facilities as well as on-the-spot laboratory tests of the product by Officers of SON. However, at least one of the four inspections shall be unannounced.

READ ALSO:  SON: THE MANDATORY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (MANCAP) – PART ONE  

The company shall ensure the success of the inspection and sampling of the product by the officials of SON.

Product that meets requirement shall be issued with a certificate and MANCAP Logo for use on the product before offering for sale in the market

Voluntary Certification Scheme (Nigerian Quality Mark):

The Voluntary Product Certification Scheme is put in place to promote continual improvement of product quality through consistent compliance to the requirements of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards at production as well as at point of sale (product performance at market level). The manufacturer is expected to have in-plant laboratory facilities for monitoring consistent conformance of the product to quality requirements during and after production. Products that meet the requirements of the scheme are issued with the licence/permit to display the Nigerian Quality Mark on the product upon approval by SON Governing Council.

Nigerian Quality Mark Logo:

The Certification Mark is a symbol of quality acceptable for both local and international markets.

Procedure

The manufacturer is expected to:

Purchase Application Form on-line or from the nearest State Office, complete the form and submit on-line or return back to the State Office;

Have full complement of laboratory facilities to monitor the quality of the product in-house;

Agree date of inspection of the factory with the concerned State Office and prepare for inspection of production processes, quality assurance facilities as well as on-the-spot laboratory analysis of the product by technical officers of SON. However, at least one of the four inspections shall be unannounced.

The company shall ensure the success of the inspection and sampling of the product by the officials of SON.

Note that samples of the product will be obtained from open market for physical and laboratory analysis as part of the assessment.

SON: THE MANDATORY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (MANCAP) – UPDATED

Re-Certification:

All certified products are put under surveillance and undergo re-certification after specified period to forestall any relapse in quality. Surveillance assessments are carried out at both the factory and market levels to re-confirm the validity of the certificate. It requires quarterly inspections in which all findings must conform to the requirements of the standard before recommendation for re-certification. If products fails to meet requirements, certification can be suspended or withdrawn. Certification can also be suspended or withdrawn if company folds up or stops production of the certified product. If such company later resumes production of the particular product, re-certification of the products applies.

The Nigerian Quality Award (NQA):

The Nigerian Quality Award is a voluntary Award scheme to recognize and reward excellent product performance through compliance with specific criteria and established Key Performance indicators (KPIs) approved by the SON Governing Council.

The award criteria is based on combination of outcome of product analysis of factory and market samples complying with the relevant Nigerian industrial Standards as well as the following quality management process analysis as KPIs:

• Leadership intent towards quality
• Operating Environment & Best Practice Adoption
• Training
• Consumer Awareness
• Information & Analysis

READ ALSO: What is SONCAP Nigeria – Meaning and Functions.

NQA Award Logo:

Details of the KPIs would be issued on application Products that meet the index analysis requirements which is Sector-based will be honoured at a grand ceremony with presentation of certificates and quality plaques. The manufacturer is issued with license to use a prestigious Award Logo on promotional and advertorial materials for the product.

Procedure

The manufacturer is expected to:

Purchase Application Form on-line or from the nearest State Office, complete the form and submit on-line or return to the State Office;

Have full complement of laboratory facilities to monitor the quality of the product in-house;

Product must have received licence to affix Nigerian Quality Mark on the product;

SON: THE MANDATORY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (MANCAP) – UPDATED

Prepare for two rounds of factory inspections:

First round of inspections will involve assessment of raw materials, production and laboratory facilities, procedures and documentation/examination of test results, warehousing/distribution records and customer feedback records;

Second round of inspection will involve assessment of management system activities using the key performance indicators mentioned above as criteria;

Note that resulting index analysis from the second round of inspection will be used to rank the products performance to determine the best product for the award in a transparent and integrity based system involving independent panel of judges;

Note that date of the two inspections will be agreed with the manufacturer;

The company shall ensure the success of the inspection and sampling of the product by the officials of SON.

Note that samples of the product will be obtained from open market for physical and laboratory analysis as part of the assessment.

PRODUCT CERTIFICATION FOR EXPORTS

This relates to issuance of Certificates of conformance to made-in-Nigeria products that conforms to applicable standards or contractual documents to facilitate export trade. It includes compliance to the quality requirements of the importing countries and applies to specific consignments meant for export by the applicant.

Procedure

The company applies formally to SON providing all necessary details of the products, processes, packaging and intending country for export;

SON technical Officers conduct inspection of the production processes and the consignments, testing of samples of the product;

The reports including results of analysis are assessed and recommendations made to the Director General for approval;

Upon approval, Certificate of Conformance is issued for the particular consignment.

SON: THE MANDATORY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (MANCAP) – UPDATED

TERMINOLOGIES USED IN THIS ARTICLE:

For the purpose of this document, the following terms apply

Quality control

A system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality at various stages of producing a product by testing a sample of the output against specifications. It is a subset of quality assurance.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance is all activities that gives confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled.

Change Control

Written procedure that describes the action to be taken if a change is proposed to facilities, processes, etc. Used in manufacturing, packaging and testing of products or where the change may affect quality or system operation.
Deviation

Planned or unplanned departure from an approved process, specification or procedure with the potential to impact on product quality.

Warning

This is issued where on completion of inspection, effective corrective action(s) is/are not implemented within the agreed time limit.

Suspension of license

This applies in a situation where after issuing a warning, and there was no action taken to restore the status of the product by the manufacturer.

Deferment of license

This applies when the product is no more being produced due to force majeure or economic situation but resumes production at a later time.

Withdrawal of license

This applies where the product fails to meet the requirements of the standard and/or other SON requirements after suspension.

Withdrawal from Certification Scheme

This is a situation where a Client, at any time during a voluntary certification process, chooses to withdraw from the product certification scheme.

Maiden/First or Initial Inspection

Maiden or First Inspection is where the company has never been inspected by SON Officials. During maiden inspection, the company is encouraged to embrace use/application of standard.

Follow up Inspection

SON: THE MANDATORY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME (MANCAP) – UPDATED

Refers to any other inspection carried out after the first inspection. It is carried out to verify that corrective action has been taken on previous inspection findings and also to ensure that such actions are effective. Follow up inspection also applies to inspection for investigation including complaints, recalls, claims, etc.

Certification Inspection (Mandatory or Voluntary)

Any inspection carried for the purpose of certification of a product. It could be mandatory or voluntary.

Re-certification Inspection

Re-certification inspection applies when a company stops production of a certified product for whatever reasons other than quality or safety for more than six months and resumes production. It also applies if certification of the product is withdrawn by SON due to failure to meet certification requirements and the manufacturer re-applies.