Certificate of Conformity for importing packaging into Iraq
Iraq's conformity programme covers regulated goods. Check whether your packaging shipment is included, who issues its certificate and which papers to prepare.
By Alireza Ahmadi, Production line specialist
Goods covered by Iraq's pre-shipment conformity programme need a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) under COSQC requirements. Confirm coverage for your product code and entry point with an authorised body and customs broker first. The supplier prepares the shipment and documents; the conformity body issues the required certificate before shipping.
Intertek's Iraq programme covers regulated goods. This guide does not establish your product's coverage or guarantee clearance. Confirm shipment and entry-point requirements before ordering, especially for destinations in the Kurdistan Region.
What is a Certificate of Conformity?
A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is issued in the country of origin, before shipping, confirming that the consignment matches the standards accepted in Iraq. It follows an inspection of the goods themselves before they leave, under the pre-shipment inspection programme Iraq operates. The reference body for the standards is COSQC.
Who does what?
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| Buyer (you) | Opens the order, specifies the standard, works with the customs broker |
| Supplier (the factory) | Prepares goods and technical documents, makes the consignment available for inspection |
| Inspection body | Inspects in the country of origin and issues the certificate |
| Customs broker | Presents the certificate with the shipping documents at the crossing |
Note that the certificate is issued by an independent inspection body, not by the factory. The factory's job is to make that inspection possible and fast: goods ready, specifications written down, and documents that match what is actually in the box.
What we prepare at Navid Selfon
The short version of exporting to Iraq, from the crossings to how to order, is on the Iraq page.
- Commercial invoice and a packing list itemised by size, thickness and real weight.
- Technical statement: material type (polyethylene / polypropylene / PVC), thickness in microns, width, seal type.
- Certificate of origin.
- Samples from the actual consignment on request — not from another run.
- The consignment made available for inspection at the factory before loading.
- Direct coordination with the broker or freight agent you choose.
We do not issue the certificate — no factory does — but we remove the most common reason it is delayed: a mismatch between what the documents say and what is actually in the consignment.
Mistakes that delay a shipment
- 1A generic description on the invoice. "Nylon bags" alone is not enough; state material, size and thickness.
- 2Approximate thickness. If the document says 40 microns and the goods are 35, that is a contradiction in an official record.
- 3Changing the specification after production starts without updating the documents.
- 4Leaving inspection to the last moment. Inspection happens before shipping; arranging it after loading means unloading again.
- 5Not telling the factory the crossing. Documents are prepared for the crossing you will enter through.
The crossings we ship through
| Crossing | Best for |
|---|---|
| Mehran | Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf and central Iraq |
| Shalamcheh | Basra and the south |
| Parvizkhan | Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and the Kurdistan Region |
What about food contact?
A fair question and a frequent one. The practical rule: film intended for food contact is produced from virgin, non-recycled raw material and must be specified as such at the order stage. If your use is food-related, say so explicitly in the enquiry so it is produced on that basis and recorded in the technical statement — do not assume it is implied.
Send your city, product type and quantity — we will set the crossing and prepare the documents with the quotation.
Request an export quotationDoes the factory issue the Certificate of Conformity?
No. It is issued by an independent inspection body in the country of origin under the pre-shipment inspection programme. The factory prepares the goods and technical documents and makes the consignment available for inspection before loading.
Which documents do you provide?
Commercial invoice, an itemised packing list with sizes, thickness and weight, a technical product statement, a certificate of origin, and samples from the actual consignment on request.
Which crossings do you ship through?
Mehran for Baghdad and central Iraq, Shalamcheh for Basra and the south, and Parvizkhan for Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and the Kurdistan Region.
