Expert advice makes Nigeria SONCAP no barrier to an increase in trade
With Brexit looming on the horizon and businesses recognising more positive conditions for exporting to Nigeria, now could be a good time to reconsider the African country as a destination for your products.
In fact, XDS has noticed an increase in the amount of Nigeria SONCAP Certificates of Conformity (CoCs) issued during the past 6 months – with more clients enjoying our fast and simple SONCAP compliance service, and also wanting to import more goods to Nigeria.
With the United Kingdom set to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019, there is no clarity yet on the future trade relationship between the UK and EU – still dependent on the type of Brexit negotiated between the two parties. Business owners remain in the dark about the future conditions for exporting to EU Member States, and whether there will be a prolonged wait for certainty during a post-Brexit transition period.
What remains certain on the other hand is the requirement for the clearance of goods going to Nigerian borders and ports, achieved with the issuance of a SONCAP Certificate of Conformity (CoC) – the mandatory document used by the Nigerian Customs Services.
SONCAP’s objectives centre on protecting the health, safety and property of consumers of imported goods to Nigeria, avoiding the need to destroy substandard goods, and to facilitate trade through fast-tracked customs clearance.
SONCAP overview for exporting to Nigeria
For those new to exporting to Nigeria, those reconsidering it after a break, or those considering an increase of trade with Nigeria, here’s a quick overview of the SONCAP process:
- The Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) is the strict set of guidelines implemented by The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
- It was first implemented in 2005, and updated in 2013
- It provides pre-shipment verification of conformity to standards required by Nigerian customs officials
- It verifies that regulated products being imported into Nigeria conform with applicable Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS)
- Each individual consignment of regulated products must be accompanied by a SONCAP Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
- The CoC must have been issued by an accredited inspection agency and submitted digitally to SON’s portal
There’s a long list of Regulated Products, Exempt Products, and other SONCAP regulations – and several routes to gaining SONCAP Certification. The most appropriate route is dependent on the product HS Code and whether the goods intended for import are classed as high risk.
XDS can give SONCAP advice – talk to us when exporting to Nigeria
If you’re faced with what seem like complex forms and frustrating SONCAP processes when exporting to Nigeria, then XDS Solutions can give advice, and then manage every step of the export document process for you.
Talk to us today – and we can deliver SONCAP compliance that’s fast and simple, with a dedicated account manager who’ll move mountains to meet your SONCAP Certification deadline.
You can also receive free essential SONCAP CoC regulatory updates and ensure your products remain compliant, being notified of changes as they happen, by registering your details with our SONCAP Account Team. Email [email protected] or call today on +44 (0)1245 249002.
This will allow you to:
- Act immediately when compliance requirements change
- Gain clearance at Nigerian Customs Ports and Borders
- Avoid costly delays, fines or the risk of blacklisting
About XDS Solutions:
Every step of your export document journey managed by us. No more complex forms, no more frustrating processes, just a team of expert advisors who’ll move mountains to meet your export certification deadline.
The whole experience of working with XDS Solutions has been positive. When we have an order for Saudi Arabia that we need assistance with I know now that it will be dealt with quickly and expertly. The account managers and the service from XDS is fantastic
XDS Solutions has simplified the CoC process for Saudi, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. Making the process far easier thanks to better communication. Also the time it takes for a Certificate of Conformity to be issued is faster than the inspection agencies we’d used previously.
We did start to work with XDS as the procedures to get SASO or KUCAS seemed to be much easier than with other organisations in France. We found procedures elsewhere became constantly ever more complicated and slow.
XDS is excellent. Our Account Manager is really helpful and comes back to us within a short space of time. Most importantly though, the turnaround for SASO Certificate issuance is now very quick meaning we can operate comfortably within client deadlines and streamline our supply chain.
Our personal account manager is always at the other end of the phone. Ready to answer any questions. Incredibly aware of our specific business challenges and up to date on the complex and ever changing compliance requirements of Nigerian customs.
