The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Technical Committee on Chemical, Cosmetic and Allied Products has set in motion deliberations aimed at preventing importation of substandard chemical products into Nigeria.
Declaring the meeting open recently, the Director-General of SON, Mr Osita Anthony Aboloma explained that the draft standards to be considered will include draft standard for radiator coolant, draft standard for liquid ink products, draft standard for paste ink products and draft standard for screen printing ink.
According to Aboloma, who was represented by the agency’s Head, Chemical Technical Group, Mr Samuel Afolayan, “We are all aware that standard promotes trade, hence it has direct impact on national economy. We therefore need product standards that can adequately meet quality, safety and sustainable environmental requirements.
“Availability of these Nigerian industrial standards would also assist in preventing continuous dumping of substandard products, particularly from foreign countries by unscrupulous importers into our nation which impacts negatively on our socio-economic developments.
“I commend the management of Autohaul Nigeria Limited for their collaboration with SON, by facilitating the hosting of this meeting. We also appreciate the management and staff of SONNEX Packaging Nigeria Limited for their partnership towards this meeting.”
“SON will continue to encourage and coordinate collaborative efforts from the organised private sector, professionals, Research institutes and other stakeholders in order to make available required National standards on both products and raw materials that are consistent with international best practises, for use in all sectors of the economy.
“I must again salute the commitment of our stakeholders, especially the manufacturer’s, in their quest to industrialise the nation despite daunting infrastructural challenges. With the current level of commitment of the Federal Government, these challenges will soon be behind us.
“ I want to assure that SON has taken full advantage of our reviewed Act No. 14 of 2015 to strengthen implementation of our policy for zero tolerance to substandard products initiative. This remains our salient resolve to protect our industries from fakers and to ensure that Nigerians get value for their money. However, the fight is not for SON alone, but requires our collective responsibility. We must together stand up for it, and with God on our side, we shall win.”
The Technical Committee meeting which had in attendance members of the Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria (MAN) was moderated by Professor Percy Onianwa of the Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan.
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