Baghdad-INA
Iraqi Minister of Agriculture Abdul Rahim Jassim Al-Shammari announced on Tuesday that the Seed Testing and Certification Department’s laboratories have received official accreditation from the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), enabling them to issue internationally recognized certificates for seed quality testing.
Speaking at a press conference attended by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Shammari said the laboratories were officially accredited by ISTA on June 15, 2026, under the registration code 0IQ, making them the first ISTA-accredited seed testing laboratory in the Arab Mashreq and the second across the Arab world.
He said the accreditation authorizes the laboratories to issue international certificates verifying seed quality and suitability for cultivation, describing the achievement as a major step in enhancing the credibility of Iraq’s agricultural production on the global stage.
Al-Shammari noted that the accreditation represents a strategic national achievement, as ISTA is the world’s leading authority responsible for setting international standards and regulations for seed testing. He said the recognition confirms that Iraq’s national laboratories fully comply with global technical and operational requirements.
The minister added that the accomplishment was the result of extensive modernization efforts, including upgrading laboratory equipment to the highest specifications, improving the qualifications of laboratory personnel, and implementing advanced administrative and technical procedures to ensure compliance with international standards.
