Iraq has a structured product compliance system focused on import safety, technical regulations, and consumer protection. The country enforces pre-shipment verification, mandatory conformity certification, and sector-specific product registration, particularly for food, electronics, telecom, and medical goods.

Key Authorities:

• Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) – Iraq’s national standards body. It develops standards, enforces technical regulations, and manages the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) program.

• Iraqi Customs Authority – Verifies CoC documents, controls imports, and enforces compliance at borders.

• Ministry of Health (MOH) – Regulates pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food supplements, and medical devices. Oversees registration and import licensing.

• Communications and Media Commission (CMC) – Handles type approval for telecommunications and RF devices.

Key Compliance Elements:

• Certificate of Conformity (CoC):

  • Most regulated products require a pre-shipment CoC issued by a COSQC-authorized inspection body (e.g., SGS, Intertek, BV).

  • Products are assessed for compliance with Iraqi or international standards (ISO/IEC/Codex).

  • CoC is required for customs clearance and applies to categories such as electronics, appliances, construction materials, and toys.

• Product Registration:

  • Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food products, and medical devices must be registered with the Ministry of Health.

  • Dossiers typically include ingredients, safety data, clinical test results, labeling, and proof of manufacturing standards.

• CMC Type Approval:

  • Mandatory for wireless and telecom products. Devices must be registered with the CMC and receive type approval before being imported or sold.

  • Approval requires technical documentation, test reports, and sometimes local testing or verification.

• Labeling Requirements:

  • Labels must be in Arabic, with:

    • Product name

    • Country of origin

    • Manufacturer/importer name

    • Usage instructions and warnings

    • Net weight or volume

    • Production and expiration dates (if applicable)

    • Regulatory marks (CoC number, registration ID)

• Import Oversight:

  • Imports are tightly controlled. Customs requires:

    • CoC

    • Invoice

    • Packing list

    • Certificate of origin

    • Import license (for restricted goods)