The Standards Organisation of Nigeria says it has completed plans to start a product authentication scheme before the end of this year.

According to the agency, the scheme is aimed at checking product cloning and adulteration.

The Director-General, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, said this on Monday during the organisation’s special day at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair.

Aboloma, who was represented by the Director, Business Support Services, Mrs. Margret Essiet, said, “SON has put in place planned implementation of a product authentication scheme before the end of the year. This scheme, which is long overdue, will tackle the challenge of product cloning and product adulteration.

“The outcome of the product authentication scheme will drive away product faking and support the zero tolerance to substandard products’ vision of SON.”

Aboloma urged the operators in the Small and Medium Enterprise sector of the economy to step up their game and become the driving force of the Nigerian economy.

The President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Nike Akande, stated that the menace of substandard products had rendered Nigerian products uncompetitive in terms of pricing.

She commended the efforts of SON in combating substandard products, noting that the efforts had resulted in the reduction of product rejection in the international market.

Akande said, “We congratulate the management of SON, ably led by Mr. Osita Aboloma, in combating fake products and enhancing product quality through standards training and certification of products and services.”

Source- THE PUNCH