SONMEL: Nigeria’s New Mandatory 2026 Energy Labeling Scheme Explained

What SONMEL Requires

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has introduced the SON Mandatory Energy Labeling Scheme (SONMEL), a conformity assessment framework requiring covered appliances to meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and carry an energy label before entering the Nigerian market. The scheme applies to both imported and locally manufactured appliances and forms part of Nigeria’s broader energy efficiency and climate mitigation policy.

Legal Basis and Regulatory Objectives

SONMEL is established under section 5(1)(h) and section 49(1) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, 2015, which authorizes SON to create product conformity assessment schemes. The stated objectives of the scheme are to reduce energy demand and appliance operating costs, provide consumers with star-rating efficiency information at the point of purchase, encourage manufacturers to invest in energy-efficient technology, and support Nigeria’s greenhouse gas reduction commitments.

Conformity Assessment

For imported products, conformity assessment under SONMEL is carried out by International Accredited Firms (IAF), the same accreditation route used for Nigeria’s SONCAP Product Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program. This alignment means firms already conducting PVoC assessments for Nigerian imports are positioned to extend that role to energy label verification, reducing the need for exporters and manufacturers to engage a separate assessment body for MEPS compliance.

Regulated Products Under Phase I and Phase II

SONMEL divides its product scope into two phases.

Phase I covers refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezer combinations under NIS 942:2017; room air conditioners including window, wall-mounted, single-split, and portable units under NIS 943:2024; and lighting products, including compact fluorescent lamps, LED lamps, and fluorescent tube lamps, under NIS 1209:2024 (Parts 1 and 2, covering lamps and luminaires).

Phase II covers ducted and multi-split air conditioners, electric motors, electric comfort fans, televisions, and electric storage water heaters. Specific national standards for Phase II products were not listed on SON’s published scheme page as of this writing.

Implementation Timeline: Voluntary and Mandatory Phases

SONMEL is rolling out in three stages, all converging on the same enforcement deadline:

• Voluntary Implementation Phase: An optional early-compliance window for Phase I products, running from the scheme’s launch until December 2026.
• Mandatory Implementation Phase I: Full enforcement requiring all Phase I appliances to carry energy labels for market access by December 2026.
• Mandatory Implementation Phase II: Full enforcement requiring all Phase II appliances to carry energy labels for market access by December 2026.

Because both mandatory phases share a December 2026 deadline, manufacturers and importers handling both Phase I and Phase II products face a single compliance cutoff rather than staggered dates.

Draft Regulations Under Stakeholder Review

SON has circulated draft Standards Organisation of Nigeria (Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme) Regulations, 2026 for public comment. Stakeholders were invited to submit feedback using SON’s comment form by August 14, 2026, and the organization plans to hold two stakeholder consultation meetings, in Lagos and Abuja, to review input before finalizing the regulations. Companies with SONMEL-affected product lines may still have an opportunity to raise implementation concerns depending on the current status of this consultation.

Key Takeaways

• Phase I product categories (refrigerators, air conditioners, lighting) face a firm December 2026 enforcement deadline; voluntary early certification is available now and may reduce last-minute bottlenecks.
• Phase II products (ducted/multi-split ACs, motors, fans, TVs, water heaters) share the same December 2026 deadline as Phase I, so manufacturers with mixed product portfolios should not assume extra lead time.
• The applicable national standards (NIS 942:2017, NIS 943:2024, NIS 1209:2024) are confirmed for Phase I; Phase II standards have not yet been published and should be monitored closely.

Source

https://son.gov.ng/son-mandatory-energy-labeling-scheme