Certificate for Exports to Nigeria
Cotecna is authorised to issue Certificates of Conformity for exports of regulated products to Nigeria.
A Certificate of Conformity is required for all regulated goods imported into Nigeria. As a trusted partner of Nigeria, Cotecna can help facilitate your exports under the SONCAP and CRIA conformity programmes.
I. SONCAP Certificate for Exports to Nigeria
Cotecna is authorised by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to issue a SONCAP Certificate for exports of regulated products to Nigeria.
Since our appointment in 2013, we have worked closely with exporters and importers to guide them through the conformity assessment process, ensuring compliance with Nigerian standards.
The SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) was introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria to address the influx of substandard and unsafe products into the country. This program aims to protect public health and safety by ensuring imported goods meet established quality standards.
Under SONCAP, importers of regulated products must obtain two key certificates:
1. Product Certificate (PC):
Issued in three categories — unregistered, registered, or licensed — based on the product’s compliance history.
2. SONCAP Certificate (SC):
Required for every shipment to verify that the consignment meets Nigerian standards. Cotecna’s mandate includes providing expert guidance and efficient services to facilitate the certification process, making it easier for exporters and importers to comply with SONCAP requirements.
SONCAP Compliance Procedures
To clear regulated products through Nigerian customs, importers must adhere to SONCAP requirements. This involves obtaining specific documents for each consignment, ensuring compliance with Nigerian standards.
- A Product Certificate (PC), issued by Cotecna
- A SONCAP Certificate (SC), issued by Cotecna
Obtaining the SONCAP Certificate (SC) from Cotecna requires first securing a valid Product Certificate (PC). The PC is a prerequisite for opening the Form M, a document necessary for pre-declaring goods intended for import into Nigeria. There are three types of PCs, outlined below:
SONCAP Certification Process
To assess the conformity of a shipment, the verification of conformity process will take one of the three following routes, depending on the profile of the exporter. To find out more about the different routes and risk assessment process, download the free exporter guide (Link under update – coming soon. Stay tuned!)
Regulated Products
The SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) covers a wide range of regulated products to ensure they meet Nigerian quality and safety standards.
Request a SONCAP Certificate
To learn more about the SONCAP programme, or to get a certificate for your exports, please send us a request.
II. CRIA Certification Process
Learn more about the specific import requirements of the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Programme, including all necessary documentation and the compliance process.
About the CRIA Programme
The Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Programme is a mandatory conformity assessment scheme introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure the quality and safety of all imports of regulated products into the country.
Obtaining the CRIA Certificate is based on a successful inspection, laboratory analysis, and verification of conformity to Nigerian standards.
NAFDAC CRIA Regulated Product List
For a detailed list of Regulated products, download our free NAFDAC CRIA product list (Link under update – coming soon. Stay tuned!)
Related Documents:
VOC Contact List (Link under update – coming soon. Stay tuned!)