Introduction to SONCAP Certification

The Nigerian National Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) is Nigeria's government agency responsible for formulating and implementing quality standards for imported goods and domestic manufactured products. In order to ensure that the controlled products meet the national technical standards or other international standards approved for implementation and to protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe or substandard products, the Nigerian National Standards Bureau has decided to implement a pre-shipment mandatory conformity assessment procedure (SONCAP) for the controlled products exported to the country.

After many years of implementation of SONCAP in Nigeria, the new SONCAP policy will be implemented on April 1, 2013 according to the latest notification. Compared with the previous SONCAP, the policy has changed greatly. Exporters no longer apply for SONCAP for each shipment. Instead, they apply for COC. After the exporter gets the COC, they provide the importer with SC. SC, which is directly applied by the importer at the local SONCAP institution. In addition, on-site sampling, inspection and inspection are required according to product risk categories.

SONCAP Business Acceptance Process A+B

A. PC application (similar quality certificate, must apply!)

1. Customers need to provide: application form (provided by our company, with seal)+inspection report produced by third-party inspection institutions (laboratory institutions have 17025 qualifications, testing standards are international standards/EU standards/German standards, American standards, Japanese standards, etc.)+product photos (better with nameplate)+inspection report (only PC2, quality system certificate can be exempted from factory inspection)

2. If there is no inspection report from a third-party inspection organization, provide information such as product pictures + material use, apply to our company for inspection. Testing fee is self-paid (usually waiting for the specific quotation of the laboratory).

3. PC1&2 charges the same, PC3 charges a higher fee, specific fees please consult Weihang Testing.

4. Ensure the return of draft confirmation and water sheet before issuing certificate. General documents are complete and qualified. It takes 3-5 working days to apply for certificate issuance.

5. Attention!!! PC fee: certificate fee + test fee (if there is a test report, there is no such fee) + factory inspection fee (if there is ISO, there is no such fee)

6. In addition, test report and test certification are different concepts. Please don't mix them up.

B. COC/SC Application (Customs Clearance Certificate)

1. Customers need to provide: application form (provided by our company, stamped)+invoice box list (stamped)+FORM M (exchanged by imported commercial PC)+PC certificate (scanned copy can be used)

2. To determine whether to supervise the installation, make an appointment for inspection 3-4 working days in advance (non-Ningbo area, there is a certain amount of travel expenses, please note)

3. At least 3-5 working days from the date of inspection to the original certificate issuance (excluding express delivery time)

4. Expense Detailed Inquiry for Weihang Testing

Be careful:

1. The difference between PC1 and PC2: PC1 is valid for half a year and can only apply for one COC; PC2 is valid for one year and can apply for countless COC, but 40% of the shipments need to be inspected (sampling inspection is necessary; 40% of the inspection rate is self-determined and can not be modified artificially; the first shipment must be inspected.)

2. PC3 only allows manufacturers to apply for inspection at least once in half a year. Cost is high, generally not recommended. No matter what kind of PC, the SCs of the first application need to be tested.