SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria)
APPLICATION FOR CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 | MANCAP / PVoC / PCS Scheme
Date: [Application Date]
TO: The Director General
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
52 Lome Crescent, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
1. APPLICANT DETAILS
1.1 Company / Applicant Name: [Applicant Name]
1.2 Registered Address: [Applicant Address]
1.3 CAC Registration Number: [CAC Number]
1.4 Tax Identification Number (FIRS): [TIN Number]
1.5 Authorised Contact Person: [Contact Person]
1.6 Email: [Contact Email]
1.7 Telephone: [Contact Phone]
2. PRODUCT DETAILS
2.1 Product Name / Description: [Product Name]
2.2 Model / Batch Number: [Product Model]
2.3 Country of Manufacture: [Country of Manufacture]
2.4 HS Tariff Code (imports): [HS Code]
2.5 Applicable Standard (NIS No.): [NIS Standard]
2.6 Assessment Scheme: [Assessment Type]
3. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
3.1 The following documents are submitted in support of this application:
(a) Technical specifications and product data sheets
(b) Laboratory test certificate: [Test Certificate Reference]
(c) Quality management system certification: [Quality Certification]
(d) Manufacturer's declaration dated: [Declaration Date]
(e) CAC Certificate of Incorporation / Business Name Registration
(f) Valid Tax Clearance Certificate (current year)
4. DECLARATION
4.1 The applicant, [Applicant Name], hereby declares that all information provided in this application and accompanying documents is true, complete, and accurate.
4.2 The applicant undertakes to cooperate fully with SON inspectors during any factory audit, product sampling, or surveillance visit and to maintain the standards of the certified product for the duration of any certificate issued.
4.3 The applicant acknowledges that any misrepresentation in this application may result in rejection, withdrawal of certification, and prosecution under Section 36 of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015.
4.4 The applicable assessment fees have been paid / will be paid in accordance with the SON fees schedule as approved by the SON Board.
Authorised Signatory (Applicant)
________________
Signature
What Is a SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria)?
A SON Conformity Assessment Application in Nigeria captures the information a regulator requires to assess and process the request it covers.
The conformity assessment process in Nigeria is governed by the SON MANCAP (Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme) scheme for locally manufactured goods and the Product Certification Scheme (PCS) for imported products. Under Section 8 of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015, SON has the mandate to certify products as conforming to Nigerian Industrial Standards and to conduct pre-shipment inspections through appointed conformity assessment bodies in the country of origin.
Manufacturers and importers submit conformity assessment applications to trigger the formal assessment process, which includes document review, factory audits, product sampling, laboratory testing, and issuance of a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) or the SON Mark of Quality. The SON Mark of Quality is a registered trademark that signifies a product meets NIS requirements and is one of the mandatory prerequisites for placing products on the Nigerian market in regulated categories including electrical equipment, chemicals, food products, toys, building materials, and motor vehicle components.
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is distinct from NAFDAC product registration, which applies specifically to foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and packaged water under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act (Cap N1, LFN 2004). Products regulated by NAFDAC require NAFDAC registration numbers in addition to SON certification for the applicable product categories.
The legal framework governing the SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria) in Nigeria draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Parties executing a SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria) in Nigeria should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 sets the foundational requirements.
When Do You Need a SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria)?
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is required in Nigeria whenever a manufacturer or importer needs to place regulated products on the Nigerian market.
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is required when a Nigerian manufacturer seeks to obtain the SON Mark of Quality for locally produced goods under the MANCAP scheme, which is mandatory for product categories listed in the SON Mandatory Products List including electrical cables, cement, paints, steel products, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is needed when an importer brings regulated goods into Nigeria and must demonstrate compliance with Nigerian Industrial Standards before the goods can clear Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) ports of entry. Under the SON Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme, importers must obtain a Certificate of Conformity from SON-appointed inspection bodies in the country of export before shipment.
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is required when a foreign manufacturer seeks approval to affix the SON Mark of Quality to products exported to Nigeria, requiring a factory audit by SON-accredited inspectors and ongoing surveillance of the production process.
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is needed when a company modifies an existing product line covered by a previous SON certificate, as product modifications affecting safety, performance, or composition require a fresh conformity assessment under SON's quality management procedures.
A SON Conformity Assessment Application is required when a company's existing SON certificate expires and renewal requires submission of updated technical documentation, new laboratory test results, and re-examination of the manufacturing facility by SON quality inspectors.
Parties in Nigeria should prepare a SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.
What to Include in Your SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria)
A complete SON Conformity Assessment Application must include the following essential elements to satisfy the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 requirements.
Applicant Information: Full legal name of the manufacturer or importer, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, registered business address, Tax Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and authorised contact person with direct telephone and email contact.
Product Description: Technical name of the product, product category under the SON Mandatory Products List, model or batch numbers, country of manufacture, Harmonised System (HS) tariff code for imported goods, and a detailed description of the product's intended use and specifications.
Applicable Standards Reference: The specific Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) number to which conformity is claimed, for example NIS 444:2015 for electrical cables or NIS ISO 9001 for quality management systems. Where no NIS exists, the applicable international standard (ISO, IEC, ASTM, EN) adopted by SON must be cited.
Technical Documentation: Bill of materials, engineering drawings, product safety data sheets, existing third-party test certificates from SON-accredited or internationally recognised laboratories (NAFDAC, SONCAP accredited labs), and a declaration of conformity by the manufacturer's authorised representative.
Factory or Importer Details: For MANCAP applications, the manufacturing facility address, production capacity, quality management system certification status (e.g., ISO 9001:2015), and list of quality control equipment maintained at the facility.
Fees and Declarations: Confirmation of payment of SON assessment fees as prescribed in the SON fees schedule (subject to periodic revision by the SON Board), a declaration that all information is true and correct, and the signature of the company director or authorised officer under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Section 98.
Additional compliance elements for a SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria) used in Nigeria include: Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Nigeria-compliant documentation.
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Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria) (Nigeria) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/nigeria/business/policies/son-conformity-assessment-nigeria
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title = {SON Conformity Assessment Application (Nigeria) (Nigeria)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/nigeria/business/policies/son-conformity-assessment-nigeria}},
note = {Free legal document template. Based on Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020}
}Frequently Asked Questions
SON certification under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 is mandatory for products listed in SON's Mandatory Products List (MPL), which currently covers over 40 product categories including electrical cables, LPG cylinders, paints, cements, steel reinforcement bars, tyres, and processed food items. For products not on the MPL, SON certification is voluntary but confers a significant competitive and regulatory advantage. The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) enforces the mandatory certification requirement at ports of entry under the SON Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme. Products in mandatory categories that arrive in Nigeria without a valid Certificate of Conformity are subject to seizure, destruction, or re-export at the importer's cost under Section 17 of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015. NAFDAC registration is separately required for food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices under the NAFDAC Act (Cap N1, LFN 2004).
The SON conformity assessment timeline in Nigeria varies by assessment type and product complexity. Under the MANCAP scheme for locally manufactured goods, the initial assessment from application to issuance of the SON Mark of Quality typically takes 8 to 12 weeks, covering document review (2-3 weeks), factory audit scheduling (2-4 weeks), laboratory testing (3-6 weeks), and certificate issuance (1-2 weeks). Under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme for imports, the conformity assessment must be completed in the country of export before shipment, and SON-appointed conformity assessment bodies such as Bureau Veritas, Intertek, and SGS typically complete pre-shipment inspections within 5 to 15 working days of receiving complete documentation. Renewal of an existing SON certificate, where the product and process have not changed materially, may be processed within 4 to 6 weeks.
Selling products in Nigeria that do not meet SON standards or lack mandatory SON certification carries significant legal and financial consequences under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015. Section 17 of the 2015 Act empowers SON officers to seize, quarantine, or order the destruction of substandard products found in the Nigerian market. Companies convicted of manufacturing or selling products that fall below applicable NIS standards face fines of up to NGN 500,000 per offence and imprisonment of responsible officers for up to 5 years under Section 36 of the Act. The Nigerian Customs Service may detain an entire shipment pending conformity assessment results, causing substantial demurrage charges at Nigerian ports. Reputational damage arising from SON enforcement actions, including public blacklisting on the SON website, can permanently affect a company's ability to participate in Federal Government procurement under the Public Procurement Act 2007.
SON certification under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 and NAFDAC registration under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act (Cap N1, LFN 2004) are distinct regulatory regimes that apply to overlapping but different product categories. SON certification covers all industrial and consumer products against Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) including electrical equipment, chemicals, building materials, textiles, and general consumer goods. NAFDAC registration applies specifically to food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, veterinary products, and packaged water, requiring a NAFDAC registration number that must appear on product packaging. Many food and beverage products require BOTH SON certification (for packaging standards, labelling, and industrial process compliance) AND NAFDAC registration (for product safety and formulation approval). The two agencies operate separate fee schedules, application portals (SON's SONCAP portal and NAFDAC's RegPortal), and enforcement teams, though a 2020 inter-agency protocol provides for coordinated market surveillance inspections.
A foreign manufacturer can initiate a SON conformity assessment for products destined for Nigeria, but the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 and SON's Product Certification Scheme (PCS) require that the application be submitted through either a Nigerian importer registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 or an authorised local representative. Under the PVoC (Pre-Export Verification of Conformity) Programme, the conformity assessment itself occurs in the country of export through SON-appointed international inspection bodies (Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek, COTECNA), but the Certificate of Conformity is issued in the name of the Nigerian importer. Foreign manufacturers who are direct exporters to Nigeria must designate a Nigeria-based responsible party for SON correspondence, sample collection, and enforcement notices. The SON Lagos office and zonal offices in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu all accept applications.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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