By Chales Okonji
As part of renewed strategy in getting the Nigerian market off substandard products ravaging the country, the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has unveiled its Product Authentication Model (PAM) to facilitate the verification of the source and quality of products in the Nigerian market.
During the sensitization of stakeholders on the PAM on Thursday in Lagos, the Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, noted that the organisation would continue to facilitate trade, ensure that importers and manufacturers products meet the requirements of the relevant standards, thereby promoting public safety, improving the lives and security of citizens and making Nigeria products marketable around the world.
According to the DG, some of the benefits of the model included protection of genuine manufacturers and importers from faking and counterfeiting of their certified products.
He noted than manufacturers commended SON for significantly reducing the importation, manufacturing and distribution of substandard products in the country through its mandatory conformity assessment programme, MANCAP and SON conformity assessment programme, SONCAP.
He lamented that despite the effort of the organization, substandard products were still being imported, manufactured and distributed in the country by smuggling and some other forms.
Introducing the model, Salim explained that the PAM is a digital technology to complement the SONCAP and MANCAP in furtherance of the fight against substandard and counterfeit products in the country, which will in turn increase productivity and result in employment creation that will lead to security improvement.
“This scheme places power to detect or reject substandard goods in the hands of our markets in the hands of our consumers and users of a product. It simply uses a QR code or the dial of smart number SMS to 281 to verify the product and to see when the product was made, if it has expiration date, when it’s expiring, where it is made and such information are necessary for the consumer to either buy the product or not to buy.
“This is different from the other types of products that are used by other organizations in the country just like the NAFDAC, where you have to buy the product, scratch the box and then when you discover that it’s fake, you are helpless. You already bought the product.
“You now have to go back and fight with the person who sold it to you. But with PAM, with your smartphone, before you buy the product, you scan it to verify if the product is okay for you to buy or not to buy.
“It will now put SON in a better position to protect our fellow citizens and ensure that we all get value for our money.”
In his presentation, Mr Shaibu Onucheyo, who presented a paper on the use of the PAM said, the organisation came up with the model to give the purchaser or buyer the opportunity to confirm the authenticity and the quality of the product before payment is made.
“Before now, the buyer must have bought the product, taken it home and put to use because before he or she will realize that the product is substandard, he or she has spent money on it and this does not give them value for their money.
“To achieve this, is as simple as anything because the mark you’ll see there has almost over 10 elements in it that speak different languages. When in different language, it gives you a different sign that this product is authentic or not. So the moment you scan with your QR code, encodes information will display, giving you from the manufacturer to every other information needed to confirm to you that the product you’re about to buy, is of good quality and if it is SMS you send you get an instant response telling you about our product. The SMS is toll free.
In his remarks, Ambrose Oruche, Director, Media and Publicity, who represented the Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, noted that MAN is in full support and has embraced the PAM, adding that it will go a long were to check substandard products, in the country
Responding to questions, the SON DG noted, “Basically the benefits include protection of genuine manufacturers and importers from faking and counterfeiting of their certified products.
“Promotion of a level play field in the market for both locally manufactured and imported products certified by some provision of assurance to consumers on products and guaranteed value for money. Assurance of effective removal of non-compliant products in the market
“Also, this is part of the programs we are doing as at SON to make sure our industries and our genuine importers are protected. We are currently with the National Assembly, the ninth National Assembly. We like to definitely thank them for cooperating with us to adjust our Act to put more penalties for people faking especially like endangering products. Most of the time they get fines and the level of fines are so small because this act was done almost eight years ago.
“So, we went back to the National Assembly and in their wisdom they agreed with us and we are processing right now as we speak. The change of the law where some products are left endangering will require immediate jail time instead of fines.
“And also we are working very seriously and assiduously to make sure we continue to protect our consumers and our manufacturers from substandard goods that are destroying our manufacturing base as a country. So we recognize to set standards and regulate certain areas of the products in the country. We will play our part and protect our people and be sure everybody is protected. That’s our responsibility and we take that serious. We do hope that our industrial base will increase because our current situation where we have a lot of educated youth walking around the country looking for work, and our industries are folding is not acceptable.
“We still have a long way to go in this process, but we’re very proud of the steps we’re making. And we are definitely reassuring the public that SON will continue creating programs like this to protect both our families and our people in addition to our industry, make sure everybody succeeds.
“This is very important, especially with African Free Trade Area, where countries, our neighboring countries and even countries a little farther from Africa will bring in their products without any serious checks except for their certification. So, we want our products to be competitive in our neighboring countries too. We are working with other agencies around the world around Africa to make sure that whenever we certify our products, we will just have a smooth sailing to the neighboring countries where you will not be checked again, where they will want to use that as an excuse particularly to prevent you from doing your businesses.
“The journey towards the actualization of this innovation has been long, arduous, and will not have been successful without the strong support and encouragement of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Industry trade and investment.
