Details of Certificates involved in importing to Nigeria
All products are regulated under SONCAP with the exception of those products that are listed in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Circular (SON/SONCAP/EX/Vol.I/005).
The regulated products shall comply with the Nigerian Essential Requirements, Technical Regulations and approved Standards prior to their export to Nigeria.
Products Exempted From SONCAP Certification include:
The following products are listed in the CBN Circular and do not require a SONCAP Certificate:
Food Products
Drugs (Medicines)
Medical Products (other than equipment and machines)
Chemicals used as Raw Material by bonafide manufacturer
Military Ware and Equipment
Goods classified as contraband by the Federal Government of Nigeria
Used products other than automobiles
However, the above listed exempted products may need to comply with other Nigerian regulatory requirements.
SPECIFIC PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS FOR NIGERIA
Life Endangering/High Risk products
Life Endangering/High-Risk Products are products which pose a greater safety risk to consumers because of their nature and therefore such products will require higher level of assessment during the certification process.
These products are:
Automobile Glass
Batteries
Brake Fluids
Brake pads
Cements
Cigarettes, Cigarette Lighter
Smoking Pipes, Cigar Or Cigarette Holders
Convertors, Chargers Electrical cables
Electrical fuses
Electrical parts
Electrical Switches
Fertilizer
Gas Regulator
Gypsum
Water Heaters
Gas Water Heater
Helmets, Safety Headgears
Lightening Arrestors
Lubricating Preparations
Matches
Paints
Razor
Safety belts
Safety Glasses
Sanitary pads
Solar panels
Stabilizer
Iron and Steel products
Steel Roofing Sheets
Storage Vessels
Telephone (Line telephone sets with cordless handsets & Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks)
Tyres
Energy Efficiency Requirements (EER)
The below listed products must comply with the Energy Efficiency Requirements in addition to the safety standard requirements:
Air Conditioners
Refrigerators
For the latest list of products and updates for Energy Efficiency requirements, contact your nearest Intertek Office.
Banker’s Acceptance Number (BA No.)
Banker’s Acceptance Number specifies the amount of money, date and the person to whom the payment is due. The Banker’s Acceptance Number is indicated in the Form M issued to the Importer.
The Applicant should provide Intertek with the BA No. during SONCAP Certification Process.
Form M
The Form ‘M’ is used by Importers to declare their intention to import goods to Nigeria. The Form ‘M’ is issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Importer obtains this information from CBN/SON on the basis of the Product Certificate (Unregistered/Unlicensed, Registered and Licensed Status) and other import related documents.
Form Q
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a new form called the “Form Q”. Form Q shall be used by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to improve access to foreign exchanges (FOB value equal to or less than US $20,000.00). Form Q was designed without a Banker’s Acceptance number (BA no.), as Form Q has a unique reference number replacing the BA number