What is SONCAP Certification?
SONCAP A new policy implemented by the Federal Government of Nigeria to control the export of substandard and unsafe products to the country. SONCAP came into effect on September 1, 2005. SONCAP is an abbreviation of the Standard Order of Nigel Assembly Program. SONCAP is a set of controlled products and conformity assessment and certification procedures applicable to certain categories of imports to Nigeria. The above controlled products must arrive before shipment or meet the requirements of the Nigeria Industrial Standards(NIS) and/or other approved international approvals.
The implementation of SONCAP is aimed at protecting Nigerian consumers from unsafe and substandard manufactured goods. Most of these unsafe products are imported goods and sold directly to consumers. The objective of implementing SONCAP is to ensure that controlled products meet the relevant requirements of acceptable standards and that the regulated products are managed by the relevant government agencies that have regulatory responsibility for product quality.
SONCAP certified product range
Category I toys: includes video games and other electronic toys. Video game field, entertainment equipment and open-air game field equipment.
Category II: Electronic and electrical products(IT equipment, home audio-visual equipment and other similar electronic products; Household vacuum cleaners and absorbent cleaning equipment, etc..)
Third category: automotive products(automotive glass, vehicle parts);
Category IV: Construction materials and gas appliances(gas appliances, galvanized steel)
Category V: Chemicals
Category VI: Food and related products.
SONCAP Certification Factory Inspection
No need to examine factory
SONCAP Certification Data Preparation
1. Application Form
2. Product specifications
3. Circuit diagram
4. Square Diagram
5. Labels

SONCAP Certification Process
The two-step process includes:
1, Production: product certification;
2, SONCAP Certification: SONCAP mandatory certification.
The first step is product certification, which applies only to the initial export to Nigeria of a specific category of controlled products. Exporters who pass product certification will receive a Product Certificate, which is valid for three years. After that, you can apply for the "M" form(Form "M").
The second step SONCAP compulsory certification, applicable to a shipment of pre-shipment goods.
The SONCAP Certificate(SONCAP Certificate) is a statutory required instrument for controlling the customs clearance of products at the Nigerian Customs. The absence of the SONCAP Certificate will cause the customs clearance of controlled products to be delayed or may be refused customs clearance. Special attention should be paid to the fact that, in addition to the process of product certification and SONCAP compulsory certification, controlled products must be subject to any other existing import procedures, such as pre-shipment inspection(PSI). Or, having gone through the process of product certification and SONCAP compulsory certification is not a substitute for any other existing import procedures required by the Nigerian Government.
SONCAP provides exporters of regulated products with two types of SONCAP certificates. Exporters can determine their own choices based on their own circumstances.
The first method is called "substantiated declaration" and applies to exporters whose products can safely comply with Nigerian standard regulations. Dealers are required to submit a Test Report and a Product Certification Application Form(RFPC) to your office in the exporting country before shipment.
After the inspection report is reviewed and passed, the importer will obtain a product certificate with a validity period of up to three years, calculated from the date of the sub-inspection report. Thereafter, prior to shipment of each batch of controlled products, the exporter must submit to the office a full copy of the Request for Shipping Certification and a copy of the Final Invoice. SONCAP certificates will be issued to exporters for customs clearance.
The second method, called Unverified Declaration, applies to exporters who can not submit a Suspicious Test Report. The exporter is required to contact the office, which provides the exporter with the contact information of an authorized laboratory capable of testing a particular controlled product. After the product inspection has passed, the exporter must submit a Test Report and a Product Certification Application Form(RFPC) to the office.
After the inspection report is reviewed and passed, the importer will obtain a product certificate, which will be valid for a maximum of three years and will be calculated from the date of issuance of the inspection report. Thereafter, prior to shipment of each batch of controlled products, the exporter must submit to the office a full copy of the Request for Shipping Certification and a Final Invoice. SONCAP certificates will be issued to exporters for customs clearance.
SONCAP Certification Notes
The Io test can produce a safe Nigerian test report such as IEC 60950.
The validity period of the product certificate shall be three years, counting from the date of issuing the inspection report. Please apply for the certificate extension before the expiration date. Upon renewal, please submit a new inspection report to the Office. Control products arriving in Nigerian ports without the necessary SONCAP certificates will be refused clearance. Importers/exporters will be required to return the goods to the country of export or to have the goods sampled by the relevant agencies, and the consequences of the delay and the associated costs incurred will be borne by the exporters/importers.
SONCAP certification cycle
4-5 weeks