From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), on Wednesday, issued the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificates to 35 companies in Anambra State.
Director General/Chief Executive of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, at a brief ceremony in Awka, the state capital, said that MANCAP was a mandatory product certification scheme designed to ensure that all locally manufactured products in the country conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) before they’re presented for sale in the market or exported.
Okeke, represented by the Regional Director, Anambra Regional Operations, Mr Mathias Bassey, said that the certifications covered 92 products from the said companies.
“Out of this number, 51 products certificates from 17 companies are for revalidation while 41 products from 18 companies are fresh entrants into the MANCAP scheme”, he explained.
The DG said that MANCAP was initiated as part of the efforts of SON to ensure that ‘Made in Nigeria’ products meet global acceptance and are able to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
“Following the issuance of MANCAP certificates to your companies, we will undertake periodic factory inspections, sampling and laboratory testing to ensure that the products certified today continue to meet the requirements of the relevant standards that had earned the establishments these certifications.
“The products are to be revalidated every three years, and it is of utmost importance that you note that the certificates issued today shall be withdrawn or suspended if the products fail to meet the minimum requirements”, Okeke said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the State Coordinator, Anambra 1 office, Awka, Emmanuel Husseni, an engineer, said that the scheme was set up to ensure that bad products were not consumed by consumers.
“Another objective of this particular scheme is to eliminate unfair practices by ensuring a level playing field between products manufactured locally and the ones imported”, he added.
The companies issued the MANCAP certificates were Chrisdom Aluminium Ent., JEZCO Oil Nig, Portico Best International, Manif Foods and Beverages Ltd, Dillys Investments Ltd, Donna Summer Nig Ltd, and P & G Cosmetics Ltd.
Others were Ucee Kings Aluminium Products Ltd, Dexin Multilinks Development Ltd, Vinval Ind. Ltd, Eastchase Aluminium Products, Olympic Technical Works Ltd and Gauze Pharmaceuticals and Lab Ltd.
Also on the list were Debaron Global Associates Ltd, Godwin Okafor and Sons Ltd, SNF Foods Ltd, Gonzilas Aluminium Products, Comag Ind. Ltd, Frandoz Ind. Ltd, Capitol Super Aluminium Products Ltd and Golden Oil Ind. Ltd, among others.