SON joins export supervision committee to boost standards

The Director-General of SON, Ifeanyi Okeke

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has joined the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme Technical Committee in a move aimed at strengthening the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian products in international markets.

The agency said its approval as a member of the committee would enhance its role in ensuring that products manufactured in Nigeria meet the required quality, safety and conformity standards for export.

In a post on its website on Saturday, SON described the development as a significant recognition of its statutory responsibility to promote standards and ensure that Nigerian products meet international requirements.

According to the agency, its inclusion in the NESS Technical Committee would strengthen the integration of export conformity assessment into Nigeria’s trade framework.

“The membership would also facilitate the integration of its Export Certificate Programme (SONEXCAP) into the National Single Window, while improving collaboration among government agencies responsible for export supervision,” the post read.

The agency noted that the development went beyond institutional recognition, describing it as an important step towards improving the global acceptance of Nigerian products.

It said the move would help strengthen confidence in Made-in-Nigeria goods, improve their competitiveness in foreign markets and support the country’s efforts to expand its non-oil export sector.

SON’s said it remained committed to ensuring that Nigerian products complied with applicable standards and could compete effectively in the international marketplace.

The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme was established under the Pre-shipment Inspection of Exports Act of 1996 to ensure that goods leaving the country undergo inspection before shipment by government-appointed inspection agents.

The scheme provides a framework for monitoring export products and ensuring compliance with relevant requirements.

The inclusion of SON in the technical committee is expected to strengthen coordination between export supervision and product conformity assessment, particularly as Nigeria seeks to increase the contribution of non-oil exports to its economy.