Companies importing foreign goods are required to provide the General Authority of Customs with an Iraqi quality certificate. In September 2025 we reported that this relates exclusively to electrical appliances at this time.
Who controls imports
- The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) is responsible for ensuring that imported goods comply with Iraqi standards and for granting them entry into the Iraqi market (November 2024).
- In December 2023 we noted that importers typically have their headquarters and warehouses in Baghdad.
- In September 2025 we reported that the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control / Quality Certificate Issuance Department issues quality certificates only to companies that have a representative office in Iraq. On a further inquiry we were informed that the requirements remain unchanged, namely that the foreign company must have a representative office in Iraq.
Inspection and testing
- In August 2024 we advised that, typically, only food products are inspected before entering the Iraqi market by COSQC, in certain cases when a customs officer doubts the expiration date or the ingredients used in the food product. The same applies to gold and silver items upon their importation, as they need to be stamped by the relevant authority to be deemed fit for sale.
- The COSQC test can only be done when the shipment reaches the Iraqi border, because more than one sample will be taken randomly (January 2024).
- In August 2024 we advised that, due to the circumstances in Iraq, there is no specialised authority for monitoring quality in Iraqi markets, especially concerning electrical appliances.
Labels
- In January 2024, regarding the label of a specific product, we advised that the Iraqi Consumer Protection Law has clearly stipulated what should be written on the label, and that the writing should be in Arabic as well and include all the ingredients and proportions that go into the manufacture of the product.
Health approvals
- Ministry of Health approval is required for the release of products intended for individual consumption or drinking. The Ministry checks the product (the trademark) itself, and does not verify the details of the trademark owner, relying on the official letter issued by the competent authority confirming the ownership of the trademark (November 2025).
- In October 2025 we advised that registration with the Ministry of Health is not required, as the Ministry has no involvement in this matter; its role is limited to inspecting the product upon entry into Iraq through any border point to ensure it is safe for use and not harmful to health.
Seeds and plant varieties
- Plant variety (seed) registration is done before the Ministry of Agriculture. The request for seed approval must be submitted by an agricultural Iraqi company that will import the seeds, and that company must submit its registration certificate in Iraq (February 2024).
Complaints about products
- A complaint can be filed against a product, in the capacity of an Iraqi citizen, with the entity called the ‘Consumer Protection Council’. The Council will refer the sample to COSQC, which will conduct the necessary tests; if the complaint is found to be valid, the product will be confiscated from the Iraqi markets (August 2024).
- In September 2024 we reported that the Consumer Protection Authority refuses to accept a product-recall complaint, claiming it falls outside their jurisdiction, and directed us to consult the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control. When we inquired about who should file the complaint, the response was that it should not be the advocate but the foreign company wishing to file the complaint, with the advocate signing as the company’s legal representative and attaching a copy of the legalised power of attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Iraqi quality certificate required to import goods?
Companies importing foreign goods are required to provide the General Authority of Customs with an Iraqi quality certificate. In September 2025 we reported that this relates exclusively to electrical appliances at this time.
Which imported products are inspected?
In August 2024 we advised that, typically, only food products are inspected before entering the Iraqi market by COSQC, in certain cases when a customs officer doubts the expiration date or the ingredients used in the food product. The same applies to gold and silver items upon their importation, as they need to be stamped by the relevant authority to be deemed fit for sale.
What must the label of an imported product show?
In January 2024, regarding the label of a specific product, we advised that the Iraqi Consumer Protection Law has clearly stipulated what should be written on the label, and that the writing should be in Arabic as well and include all the ingredients and proportions that go into the manufacture of the product.