Imported goods account for 80% of substandard products – SON

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said it intends to use its Product Authentication Mark (PAM) to give consumers the power to detect, reject and report substandard products in the country.

At a general sensitisation on PAM scheme in Lagos, the director- general, SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, explained that the programme was to increase awareness of the scheme, pointing out that the initiative was introduced by the organisation to enable consumers verify the authenticity of all SON-regulated products in markets in its continued efforts to curb the influx of substandard imported goods into the country.

Okeke, who was represented by the director, Product Certification Department of the organisation, Onuchenyo Enebi, an engineer, lamented that imported goods accounted for over 80 per cent of substandard goods in the country, lamenting that the country’s manufacturing industry is already battling with the lingering effect that substandard goods have dealt on the economy and the myriad of challenges hindering the sector’s productivity.

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“This scheme places the power to detect, reject and report substandard goods in our markets in the hands of the consumers by simply scanning a QR code with their smart phone or sending an SMS to 281 before they buy. It will no doubt better position us at the SON to protect our fellow citizens and ensure that we all get value for our money,” he said.