Eromosele Abiodun
The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) has presented a revalidated MANCAP Certificate and Logo for Refined White Sugar to the 2,000 Metric Tonnes per day BUA Sugar Refinery, Apapa, Lagos.
MANCAP was introduced by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in January 2006 as a Mandatory Product Certification Scheme.
MANCAP certification assessment involves both product conformity assessment and process conformity assessment with the objectives of ensuring that locally manufactured products conform to the relevant standards and protecting manufacturers against counterfeiting and unfair trade practices.
It was also introduced to protect consumers against substandard and unsafe products, prevent dumping of unsafe and substandard products in Nigeria markets and to give consumers confidence that locally made goods are fit, safe to meet intended use.
Speaking in Lagos, the state coordinator, Lagos Office, SON, Joseph Ugbaja said BUA Sugar Refinery was awarded the SON prestigious quality mark because it has gone through the vigorous process of routine inspection, testing and has satisfied the SON stringent conditions for the award of the Quality Mark.
According to him, “The certificate we are about to present today is a re-validation and re-affirmation of your product quality after our routine checks and test in the last 3 years. “We want to commend the efforts of the regulatory officer, quality assurance team and most importantly the management commitment towards this journey of quality which is an endless one.”
The SON boss however warned that the certificate can be withdrawn anytime the refinery deviate from standard or quality.
“We want to equally remind you that the certificate can be withdrawn by SON at any time you deviate from the standards or your quality falls short of the minimum requirements. I Will equally advice the management to show further commitments towards the journey of quality which is an endless one and also purchasing the l-Check for vitamin A determination which is a quantitative analysis method in-Iine with the global trend.â€
“The Quality Assurance department should also be empowered for the greater role of ensuring good quality products by provision of equipment and independence of their operations.â€
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of BUA Sugar Refinery, Ibrahim Yaro said the recertification was achieved through and work of staff members.
“It is a remarkable event and the memory will linger for the next three year. It is not easy to have SON MANCAP Recertification because to have it one must have done extra work.â€
Yaro who assured that the refinery will leave no stone unturned to achieve safety commended the agency for entrenching quality in the country.
“It is our intention that we will leave no stone unturned in our sugar refinery when it comes to safety. We have a well organised quality circle that is well known and I salute SON for successfully entrenching quality, “he stated.
