In conversation with our expert for international registrations, Martine Segener
Forecasts for foreign exports to Middle Eastern countries are good. In particular, products such as cosmetics, construction and sanitary products, and automotive spare parts from other European countries are in demand.
For many manufacturers, the different approval regulations, country specifications, cultural customs and language barriers pose a challenge when exporting their goods. After all, the chance of being successful in new markets is often dependent on good sufficient planning, as high costs can arise due to difficult-to-calculate risks during approval.
In our series of interviews, we would like to introduce you to the specifications and special features of registration in various countries in the Middle East.
TÜV Rheinland is currently the only Notified Body that can carry out a CoR assessment procedure for manufacturers and suppliers for Iraq, which has been mandatory since October 1, 2020.
Martine Nicola SegenerIn this interview with our expert for international approvals at TÜV Rheinland, Martine Segener, the first topic we address is requirements for exporting to Iraq. What do manufacturers and distributors have to consider? What special, country-specific regulations could delay or prevent the import of your products?
What challenges do manufacturers currently face when they want to approve their products for Iraq?
Until some time ago, only a CoC (Certificate of Conformity) was mandatory for importing goods into Iraq. The challenge was that only a few products were regulated in the CoC program for importing goods into Iraq. As a result, many goods entered the market that were not previously regulated. These included pirated branded products or low-quality goods.
To counteract this and verify the credibility of manufacturers and suppliers, thus ensuring that only safe and high-quality products reach the market, the State Company for Iraqi Fairs and Commercial Services, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Trade in the Republic of Iraq, introduced the Certificate of Registrations (CoR) for manufacturers and suppliers from exporting countries. This assessment program has been a requirement for obtaining an import license in Iraq since October 1, 2020.
| Biography |
| Martine Nicola Segener has been with TÜV Rheinland since 2016. Since the beginning of 2021, she has been working as an Operation Manager at DIN CERTCO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung mbH. She is an experienced expert for international approval regulations in the Middle East and Africa. |
What does the new CoR program mean for me as a manufacturer?
The CoR program ensures that only products of the respective certified manufacturer with the registered brand names are put on the market and no copies or low-value goods. This ensures the warranty of the products for the consumers in Iraq and it is relevant in questions of liability.
Manufacturers and traders wishing to export goods to Iraq must undergo an audit to obtain the CoR. This is a requirement for the issuance of an import license by the Iraqi authorities to the respective importers.
What is the process of the assessment?
The manufacturer or supplier contacts us and tells us which products and brands they produce and in which factories.
Afterwards, all plants are inspected and audited on site. Furthermore, a document check is carried out and trade register excerpts as well as brand certificates are checked to ensure that all documents are valid for the manufacture of the products.
After a positive evaluation, the manufacturer/distributor then receives the Certificate of Registration (CoR).
At the same time, our colleagues from Iraq upload the certificate in an online portal, the Iraqi authority.
This prevents misuse. The authority can see at a glance which products, brands, factories and which importer is listed on the certificate. In this way, the importer can be issued with an import license without any problems.
How time-consuming is the certification of a manufacturer or distributor? How much time do you have to spend for the registration?
The time required for certification is highly dependent on the number of plants, as each plant must be audited. The audit itself takes one working day. After the audit, the manufacturer receives the certificate after about a week. A major advantage is that TÜV Rheinland makes the certificate directly accessible to the local Iraqi authorities via an online portal.
How does TÜV Rheinland support me in exporting?
Currently, TÜV Rheinland is the only Notified Body authorized to carry out the CoR program.
As a reliable and globally recognized partner for certification, we test and certify certificates of conformity and CoR for all products intended for export to Iraq. Our experts have many years of experience with import regulations for imported products and they are the right partner for your market approval in Iraq.
If you also want to enter a new market by exporting your products to Iraq, contact our experts today!
