SON Standards Compliance Declaration (Nigeria)

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration in Nigeria sets out the facts the maker formally declares for the purpose it serves. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 recognises both third-party certification (resulting in the SON Mark of Quality) and manufacturer's declarations of conformity (DoC) for products in non-mandatory or low-risk categories not covered by the Mandatory Products List (MPL). For products not on the MPL, a Standards Compliance Declaration provides a documented record of the manufacturer's technical due diligence that can be produced during SON market surveillance inspections, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) investigations, or procurement audits under the Public Procurement Act 2007. A Standards Compliance Declaration is routinely required by Nigerian corporate buyers, government procurement agencies, and international trade partners who need documentary assurance that goods supplied from Nigeria meet recognised quality benchmarks. The declaration references the specific NIS or ISO standard, provides traceability to test records, identifies the responsible signatory under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, and specifies the product batch or production period covered by the declaration. In export contexts, a SON Standards Compliance Declaration may accompany Nigerian-origin goods to foreign buyers as evidence of compliance with Nigerian manufacturing standards, particularly for commodities such as sesame seeds, cocoa, rubber, and manufactured goods exported to EU, US, and Asian markets where origin documentation is required for market entry. The legal framework governing the SON Standards Compliance Declaration (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 Standards Compliance Declaration (Nigeria) in Nigeria should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Contract Law (received English common law) sets the foundational requirements.

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration is required in Nigeria across a range of commercial and regulatory contexts.

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration is required when a company supplies products to Nigerian Federal Government agencies or state government parastatals under contracts governed by the Public Procurement Act 2007, where the procurement officer requires documentary evidence that products comply with applicable Nigerian Industrial Standards before accepting delivery.

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration is needed when a manufacturer or importer responds to a SON market surveillance inspection and must produce documentary evidence of product conformity. Where the product is not in a mandatory certification category, a signed declaration supported by test reports satisfies the evidentiary burden under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015.

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration is required when a Nigerian company enters a supply agreement with a multinational corporation operating in Nigeria — such as those in the oil and gas sector governed by the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 — where supplier qualification procedures require written conformity declarations for all locally procured materials.

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration is needed when a company is preparing for ISO 9001:2015 quality management system certification and must document its product conformity assessment processes, including formal declarations of compliance with applicable standards for each product category.

A SON Standards Compliance Declaration is required for exports from Nigeria to countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trade zone under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), where the ECOWAS Standardisation, Accreditation, Metrology, and Testing (ECOSAM) framework requires origin documentation and standards compliance evidence.

Parties in Nigeria should prepare a SON Standards Compliance Declaration (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.

A valid SON Standards Compliance Declaration must contain the following essential elements to be legally and commercially effective under Nigerian law.

Declaring Party Identification: 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) from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the name and title of the authorised signatory.

Product Identification: Exact product name, brand or trade name, model numbers, product variants covered by the declaration, Harmonised System (HS) tariff code for imported products, batch numbers or production date range covered by the declaration, and country of manufacture.

Standard Reference: The specific Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) number and edition year (e.g., NIS ISO 9001:2015, NIS 444:2015), the title of the standard, and the specific clauses or requirements to which conformity is declared. Where the product is assessed against multiple standards, each must be listed separately.

Evidence of Conformity: Reference to the laboratory test reports supporting the declaration, including the test laboratory name, ILAC or SON accreditation number, report reference numbers, and dates of testing. The test reports themselves must be retained and available for inspection by SON or other regulatory authorities.

Scope and Limitations: A clear statement of the scope of the declaration — identifying any product parameters, operating conditions, or intended uses covered or excluded — and confirmation that the declaration applies only to products manufactured or imported under the conditions described in the accompanying technical file.

Signatory Declaration: A signed declaration by the company director or quality manager under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Section 98, stating that the information is true and that the signatory accepts legal responsibility under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015 for any false declaration.

Additional compliance elements for a SON Standards Compliance Declaration (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.