In order to protect the locally produced products in Iraq, the Iraq government decided to impose extra penalty charges on all imported products that are equivalent and similar to locally produced products.

This law is officially implemented with start on the 24^th of January 2017.

The Customs Authorities worked out a list of products based on the Harmonized System Code (World Import/Export HS Codes) to be used. This list will be the official document to verify and compare the imported products with the locally produced products.

Based on this law, the HS Codes must be indicated in all documents i.e. invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin.

Will follow up and keep you informed accordingly.

Cancellation of Duty and Tax Exemption letters from 2016

Effective from the 26^th of January 2017 and after several meetings and discussions between the Iraqi ministries and The General Directorate of Customs it became officially declared that all customs procedures for all shipments with valid Duty and Tax exemption letters from the year 2016 are suspended until further notice.

The involved ministries/government companies have to apply again for the immediate renewal of all those permissions to be valid for 2017.

This of course is causing delays at the Iraqi ports to get the shipments released in time and will definitely cause extra and additional charges.