The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has backed the effort of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to introduce Product Authentication Mark (PAM) to checkmate influx of substandard goods into Nigeria.
MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, said this at a stakeholders sensitisation forum on PAM on Thursday in Lagos.
Meshioye represented by the Director, Corporate Services Division, MAN, Mr Ambrose Oruche, said the move would asides checkmating the influx of fake products, protect local manufacturers from unfair competition.
According to him, the move is a welcome development especially at a time when most economies of the world were operating border-less trade.
He added that the development was also critical in the face of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to prevent Nigeria from being a dumping ground for inferior goods.
“We are delighted that this scheme serves as a clear demonstration of SON’s confidence in local manufacturers and we would key into any initiative that is aimed at protecting our members and Nigerians at large,” he said.
Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, said local manufacturers were excluded from the initiative to prevent additional cost for them.
He stated that the target products of the initiative are imported finished products while local manufacturers were free to join voluntary.
“What we hope to do eventually is that if the manufacturer sees the benefit of PAM with importers, they will eventually join us because the programme is very useful for anyone producing authentic and standard goods.
“This particular mark is like a naira mark, but we are planning to use specialised machines, papers, security codes.
“Our inspectorate and compliance department are always there and with the help of our customers, anybody breaking the rules would be prosecuted, their goods would be seized and the court will give us permission to destroy those goods,” he said.
Salim urged dealers of substandard goods to desist from the act of short-changing Nigerian with goods that have no economic value.
He reiterated the commitment of SON to continue to be on top of its game to checkmate the activities of unscrupulous elements in the country.
The SON DG revealed that plans were underway to upgrade the SON Act, with a public hearing at the National Assembly in tow with hopes that the bill is passed and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari or the incoming administration.
“We are working on it and we would make sure we follow all the rules and the public is protected,” he assured.
The Director, Product Certification, SON, Engr Onucheyo Enebi, said the introduction of PAM became necessary because the agency had been inundated with complaints from consumers over the influx of substandard goods into the country.
He said the substandard products meant customers do not get value for their money, so PAM would give buyers the opportunity to confirm the authenticity of the product before even paying for it.
Enebi revealed that the mark had over 10 elements to detect authenticity upon scanning the QR code.
“All you have to do is send an SMS to 281 or scan the QR code with your Android or IOS phone and you will get an instant response.
“I want to encourage Nigerians that whenever they scan a product and you realise that the product is substandard, please do not keep quiet, but raise an alarm so that the relevant agencies can carry out an enforcement exercise,” he said.
