SONCAP is a pre-shipment compliance test for standard processes to verify that products imported into Nigeria are in compliance with applicable NIS or approved equivalent standards and technical regulations prior to shipment.
According to SONCAP regulations, imported goods must be verified and tested in the supplier country (export), and a SONCAP certificate (SC) is issued to prove that the product complies with applicable standards and regulations or the non-conformity report (NCR) of the goods involved is not complied with.
Conformity assessment elements in SONCAP include, but are not limited to, pre-shipment physical inspections, sampling, testing and analysis by accredited laboratories, product process and system audits, and documentation of regulatory compliance and overall assessment of compliance criteria.
The objectives of the program include but are not limited to the following:
Before exporting to Nigeria, please ensure that the regulated product meets NIS or approved standards
Provide a level playing field for quality in regulated and locally manufactured products to prevent unfair competition
Prevent dumping of non-conforming goods into the Nigerian market, thereby preventing economic losses to importers and the country as a whole
Considering that payments to goods shipped to Nigeria have been paid to exporting countries/exporters, the loss of life and property, including foreign exchange, has been prevented.
Prevent any adverse reactions from regulatory agencies when such products arrive in Nigeria (eg environmental pollution due to damage to substandard products)
Promote trade through port customs clearance
Encourage real investors and Nigerian investment
Promote products made in Nigeria
Save foreign exchange
The SONCAP system has three basic characteristics:
SONCAP stipulated product or product range
The current regulated (link to the regulated list) includes all imported goods controlled by SONCAP, with the following exceptions:
Food product
Drug (drug)
Medical equipment and equipment
Goodwill manufacturers use chemicals as raw materials
Military supplies and equipment
The federal government of Nigeria classified as a contraband
Used products other than automobiles
Bonafide manufacturers who intend to import machinery or related parts for manufacturing, please apply to SON for a SONCAP import license to enable them to import (link to an import license).
The Federal Government may, from time to time, add or remove products that are regulated under the program through the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for Comprehensive Import Supervision Program (CISS), which is registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). CISS will always provide appropriate notice through the CBN and should allow sufficient time between the date of the announcement and the implementation of the measure to achieve full compliance.
