SON Partners SMEs to Enforce Standardisation in Retail Shops

As part of efforts to ensure safety of consumers at the grassroots level, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has entered into strategic partnership with various SME bodies in the country to ensure that retail operators comply with standard rules and requirements.

The Director General of the agency, Mr. Osita Aboloma, disclosed this at the official opening of SON’s new office in Seme border.

According to the DG, the organisation was working on a product that would provide standards for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a means of remodeling the sector.

By this, barbers, stylists, bakeries and others in the SMEs category would be compelled to comply with standards in their operations as well as their instruments of trade.

Speaking further on this, spokesperson of the agency, Mr. Rilwan Fashina stated that Nigeria’s Industrial Standards were available for bread which includes good manufacturing practices for bakeries.

“In addition, ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) standards which is used globally applies to all forms of endeavours from manufacturing to services provision and running of governments and non-governmental organisations.

“Conversely, all implements used in salons from the clippers, furniture, mirrors, sterilisers to brushes, combs and towels etc. have established standards for each. Also, the QMS standards are applicable to how the salons or any other business or endeavours are run. What is done how it is done, documented and applied, with regular reviews and checks for continual improvements,” he said.

The spokesperson revealed further that as part of SON’s programmes, some MSMEs had been selected across the federation who were being trained on ISO 9001 QMS Standards and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System Standards.

He pointed out that those that participated in the training exercise would be taken through certification process at no cost for both services. “These are to serve as pilot schemes to improve the quality and competitiveness of their products for local consumption and export, thus encouraging other MSMEs to embrace standardization,” he concluded.