The director-general of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Farouk Salim, has advised producers and manufacturers of products to ensure their brands conform with the required standards.

Mr Salim gave the advice on Thursday while presenting mandatory conformity assessment programme certificates (MANCAP) to five companies that have been consistent in the quality of their products in Abakaliki, Ebonyi.

The DG, represented by Fred Akingbesote, South-East regional operational director of SON, also warned manufacturers that have inscribed fake MANCAP marks on their products to desist from such acts.

He noted that those into the fraudulent act would face the wrath of the law.

Mr Salim reiterated the need to have necessary certification of products as it would enable them to compete favourably in the market both within and outside the country.

“MANCAP is a mandatory product certification scheme put in place by SON to ensure that all locally made products conform to relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) before such products are sold in the market or exported.

“For those whose products have been certified, ensure that you live up to the expectations because, the certificate issued to you can be withdrawn or suspended if your products fail to meet the minimum requirements.

“Those yet to be certified should contact our office.

”The benefits of MANCAP certification include: to enhance business growth, encourages production of excellent quality products and healthy competition through consistence compliance to relevant standard.

“It also promote global competitiveness among domestic manufacturers amongst others,” the DG added.

Maryrose Ugwueche, state coordinator of SON in Ebonyi urged the manufacturers to continue to maintain quality of products and standards for global market.

According to Mrs Ugwueche, in quality world, “Quality is a Journey and not a destination.”

“The certification of your products, is a clear indication of how far you have come on this journey in conformity of your products to the Nigerian Industrial Standards. Note that you are required to uphold the standard attained,” she explained.

In his remark, Esther David, quality assurance manager of Vegas Restaurant and Bakery, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, promised to work toward maintaining the MANCAP-certified status.

“Our interaction with SON has put us in a position to know that MANCAP certification is not a one-stop thing and we promise to keep to the standards.

“We thank SON for the certificate,” she said.

Some other companies that received the certificate are Roban Store, Abakaliki branch, Vita-mater Oil Ltd, Spring and Caelis table water and Joppa table water Ltd.

(NAN)