SON Introduces PAM To Curb Substandard Products

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has introduced a Product Authentication Mark (PAM) to protect Nigerian Consumers from the consumption of substandard products.

PAM according to SON 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 smartphone or sending an SMS to 281. So, that, at the point of purchase, a consumer can authenticate and confirm the standard of the product before paying for it.

In his Message at a Stakeholders sensitization meeting organised by the agency in preparation for the official launching of the Director General of SON, Mallam Fa20 Million said the PAM has become necessary as a control measure to protect Nigerian Consuthe mers from consumption of substandard products.

The stressing said “ PAM is one of the initiatives of the Organisation to enable consumers to verify the authenticity of all SON-regulated products in the markets in our continuous efforts to address the challenge posed by the presence of sub-standard products in Nigeria.

“ The Organisation is empowered by the provision of the Act, 2015 to amongst others, facilitate trade and ensure that all imported and manufactured products meet the requirements of the relevant standards thereby promoting public safety, improving the lives and security of the citizens of Nigeria.”

Salim said in line with its mandate, the Organisation over the years has substantially reduced the importation, manufacturing ring and distribution of substandard products in the country through its centurynturyformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) schemes respectively.

He lamented t, in general, the efforts of SON, substandard products are still been imported into Nigeria, which has led to the Organisation’s development of PAM to further checkmate the influx and manufacturing of fake and substandard products into the Nigerian market.

“Despite the efforts of the Organisation, substandard prodaaare still being imported or manufactured and distributed in the animal-sourceduggling, and in some cases through the use of fake SON stickers on non-certified products amongst others.

“To curb this disturbing occurrence in the country, the Organisaanimal-source doped a Product Authentication Mark (PAM) to facilitate the verification of the source and quality products in the Nigerian market. PAM is a digital technologcomplementsts the SON Conformity Assessment Programmes (SONCAP and MAthis livestock ance of the fight against substandard and counterfeit products in Nigeria”.