What is SONCAP certification?
A new policy implemented by the federal government of Nigeria to check and control the export of unqualified and unsafe products to the country. SONCAP comes into effect on September 1, 2005. SONCAP is the abbreviation of standards organization of Nigeria conformity assessment program. SONCAP is a set of controlled products and conformity assessment and certification procedures applicable to certain categories of products imported into Nigeria. The above regulated products must arrive before shipment or meet the requirements of Nigerian industrial standards (NIS) and / or other approved international approvals.
The purpose of implementing SONCAP is to protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe and substandard manufactured products. Most of the above non-conforming and unsafe products are imported products and sold directly to consumers. The objective of implementing SONCAP is to ensure that the regulated products meet the relevant provisions of acceptable standards, and to enable the relevant government agencies with regulatory responsibility for product quality to manage the regulated products.
Scope of SONCAP certified products
The first kind of toys: including video games and other electronic toys. Video game field, entertainment equipment and outdoor game field equipment.
Category II: electronic and electrical products (IT equipment, household audio-visual equipment and other similar electronic products; household vacuum cleaners and water absorption cleaning equipment, etc.)
The third category: automotive products (automotive glass, vehicle parts);
Class IV: building materials and gas appliances (gas appliances, galvanized steel)
Category 5: Chemicals
Category 6: Food and related products.
SONCAP certified factory inspection
No need to audit the factory
Preparation of SONCAP certification data
1. application form
2. Product manual
3. Circuit diagram
4. block diagram
5. label
SONCAP certification process
The two-step process includes:
1. Product certification: product certification;
2. SONCAP certification: SONCAP compulsory certification.
The first step of product certification is only applicable to the initial export of a certain category of controlled products to Nigeria. Exporters who have passed the product certification will obtain the product certificate, which is valid for three years. After that, you can apply for the "m" form.
The second step is compulsory certification of SONCAP, which is applicable to a batch of goods before shipment.
SONCAP certificate is a legal and necessary document for controlled products to go through customs clearance procedures in Nigeria. The lack of SONCAP certificate will cause delay in customs clearance of controlled products or may result in refusal of customs clearance. It should be noted that in addition to the product certification and SONCAP compulsory certification procedures, any other existing import procedures, such as pre shipment inspection (PSI), must be carried out when the controlled products are available. In other words, the handling of product certification and SONCAP compulsory certification procedures cannot replace any other existing import procedures required by the Nigerian government.
SONCAP provides exporters of controlled products with two kinds of issuance of SONCAP certificates. The exporter shall determine the choice according to its own situation.
The first method, known as "substantiated declaration", is suitable for exporters whose products can safely comply with Nigerian standard regulations. The exporter shall submit a test report and a request for product certification (RFPC) to your office in the exporting country before shipment.
After the inspection report is reviewed and approved, the importer will obtain the product certificate with a maximum validity of three years from the date of issuance of the sub inspection report. After that, before shipment of each batch of controlled products, the exporter shall submit a completed application for shipment certification and a final invoice to the office. The SONCAP certificate will be issued to the exporter for customs clearance.
The second method is called "unsubstantiated declaration", which is applicable to exporters who can not submit a factual test report. The exporter is required to contact the office, which provides the exporter with the contact information of an authorized laboratory capable of testing a particular regulated product. After the products pass the inspection, the exporter shall submit a test report and a request for product certification (RFPC) to the office.
After the inspection report is reviewed and approved, the importer will obtain the product certificate with a maximum validity of three years from the date of issuance of the inspection report. Thereafter, before shipment of each batch of controlled products, the exporter shall submit a completed application for shipment certification and a final invoice to the office. The SONCAP certificate will be issued to the exporter for customs clearance.
Instructions for SONCAP certification
Hua Ming testing can issue safe Nigerian test reports such as iec60950.
The product certificate shall be valid for a maximum period of three years from the date of issuing the inspection report. Please extend the certificate before the expiry date. When applying for extension, please submit a new inspection report to the office, and the controlled products arriving at Nigerian port without necessary SONCAP certificate will be refused customs clearance. The importer / exporter will be required to transport the goods back to the country of export, or the relevant authorities will carry out sampling inspection on the goods, and the consequences of the delay and the related expenses incurred therefrom will be borne by the exporter / importer.
SONCAP certification cycle