The Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) are both essential components in the importation process into Nigeria.

PAAR

PAAR is a mandatory document required by the Nigeria Customs Service for the clearance of goods. It is an assessment report that provides details about the shipment, including the value, classification, and origin of the goods. This report helps in determining the correct duties and taxes to be paid.

SONCAP

SONCAP is a pre-shipment verification of conformity to standards process. It ensures that products imported into Nigeria meet the applicable Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) or approved international standards. The process involves:

Product Certification: This includes obtaining a Product Certificate (PC) which confirms that the product meets the required standards.

SONCAP Certificate (SC): After the product passes the conformity assessment, a SONCAP Certificate is issued, which is necessary for customs clearance.

Connection between PAAR and SONCAP

Integration: The PAAR process requires the submission of the SONCAP Certificate for regulated products. This integration ensures that only products that meet the required standards are allowed into Nigeria.

Compliance: Importers must ensure that their products have both the PAAR and SONCAP certificates to avoid delays and penalties during the customs clearance process, to this end you can use our SONCAP portal to streamline your SONCAP Certification saving you significant time on your PAAR Submissions.