The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has disclosed plans to launch Product Authentication Mark (PAM) to curb the influx of substandard imported goods into the country.
Speaking at a stakeholders sensitisation forum on PAM in Lagos, the director general, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, stated that, PAM was specifically developed to checkmate imported goods into the country.
According to him, imported goods account for over 80 per cent of substandard goods into the country.
The SON boss added that the introduction of PAM is a declaration of war against substandard goods while also reaffirming the agency’s zero tolerance for substandard goods.
He, however, urged local manufacturers to key into the initiative, pointing out that, it is the only way to increase consumers’ confidence, profitability and market share.
Salim said, excluding local manufacturers from the initiative was to prevent any additional cost for manufacturers, saying, the nation’s manufacturing sector is already battling with substandard goods in the country and myriads of challenges hindering the sector’s productivity.
“The original target group are imported finished products. Local manufacturers are free to join voluntary because we do not want to increase to their cost of production.
“So, in order for us to have peace, we decided not to involve the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), but they can join voluntarily. What we hope to do eventually is that if the manufacturer sees the benefit of PAM with importers, they will eventually join us because the programme is very useful for anyone producing authentic and standard goods, it helps to sell goods, it helps customers identify your products and this is good for business,” he stressed.
