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.
What a representative office involves
- Establishing a representative office for a foreign company in Iraq is a very complex process, involving annual taxes, as well as the requirement for the company to rent an office and employees (September 2025).
- Most foreign companies specialising in electrical appliances have either suspended their commercial dealings or are limiting themselves to selling the goods to Iraqi traders, who in turn handle the customs procedures (September 2025).
- 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.
Branches in the Kurdistan Region
- In a Kurdistan court matter in October 2025 we advised that the Companies Registrar would be contacted to check whether the plaintiff has a registered branch in Kurdistan, and that the case might be rejected if it does not. The plaintiff’s officially appointed exclusive agent in Kurdistan, legalised up to the Iraqi embassy, allows us to bypass the issue of the non-existent branch in the region.
The exclusive agent option
- In a Kurdistan matter in October 2025 we recommended that, since the client had an exclusive agent in the region appointed under an official agreement, it was better for the agent to be the plaintiff. The agent can present the signed and legalised agreement with the client and can authorise us to handle the case on its behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Does a foreign company need a representative office to obtain an Iraqi quality certificate?
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.
Why do some foreign companies sell through Iraqi traders?
Most foreign companies specialising in electrical appliances have either suspended their commercial dealings or are limiting themselves to selling the goods to Iraqi traders, who in turn handle the customs procedures (September 2025).