GCC / Middle East
Iraq
Iraq is a predominantly Muslim country with a large import-dependent food market.
Tier 3: Emerging MarketHalal certification required- $4.2B
- Halal market
- 95%
- Muslim population
- 40M
- Muslims
- 6.0%
- Yearly growth
Overview
Iraq is a predominantly Muslim country with a large import-dependent food market. With limited domestic halal-certified food production, Iraq relies heavily on food imports from Turkey, Iran, Jordan, and Australia. The formal halal certification framework is developing; COSQC oversees standards. Infrastructure challenges remain significant for cold-chain dependent products.
Market Overview
- Total Population
- 42.3M
- Muslim Population
- 40M (95%)
- Halal Market Size
- $4.2B
- Market Growth (CAGR)
- 6.0%
- GDP (USD)
- $268B
- Per Capita Halal Spend
- $990
Regulatory Framework
- Halal Authority
- Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC)
- Certification Required
- Yes, Mandatory
- Mandatory for
- ["Food products","Beverages","Cosmetics"]
- Key Legislation
- General Standard for Food Labeling (GSO 9); Iraqi Standard 1634 (Halal Food)
- Import Requirements
- Halal certificate required for food and cosmetics imports. COSQC-approved foreign certifiers accepted. Certificate must be authenticated by Iraqi embassy in country of origin.
- Labeling Requirements
- Arabic-language labeling required. Halal declaration required for applicable product categories.
Accepted Certifiers
Industry
Top Halal Sectors
Key Organisations
Standards and quality control
Trade Intelligence
- Government Incentives
- Limited — reconstruction-focused investment incentives
Key Trade Agreements
Consumer Insights
- Halal Awareness
- very-high
- E-Commerce Adoption
- low
- Cold Chain Maturity
- low
- Per Capita Halal Spend
- $990
Companies in Iraq
Iraq at a glance
- ISO Code
- IQ
- Region
- GCC / Middle East
- Market Tier
- Tier 3
- Cert. Required
- Yes
- Market Size
- $4.2B
Market Statistics
Halal Certification Rules
- Certification
- Mandatory ✓
- Authority
- Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC)
- Import Requirements
- Halal certificate required for food and cosmetics imports. COSQC-approved foreign certifiers accepted. Certificate must …
Related industry guides
Working with Iraq suppliers or distributors? Pair this country profile with our Halal Supplier Sourcing Guide for vetting and RFQ playbooks, and the Halal Cosmetics Guide for one of the fastest-growing product categories in the global halal economy.