Warith Food and Water Safety Laboratories, affiliated with the Health and Medical Education Authority at the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine, have obtained ISO 17025 international certification after meeting the required quality and accreditation standards. The achievement makes the laboratories the first non-governmental facility of their kind in Iraq—and only the second laboratory in the country—to receive the certification.

Dr. Haider Hamza Al-Abidi, Head of the Health and Medical Education Authority, told the Shrine’s official website that the laboratories earned the certification after successfully fulfilling international quality and accreditation requirements.

He explained that obtaining ISO 17025 certification followed nearly two years of continuous efforts by the laboratory staff to meet rigorous quality and accreditation standards, marking a significant advancement in food and water safety testing in Iraq.

Al-Abidi added that Warith Food and Water Safety Laboratories will serve as the foundation for a broader national project aimed at supporting the community and improving the quality and safety of food and drinking water. The laboratories will provide testing services in accordance with internationally recognized standards and specifications.

He noted that the achievement reflects the dedication of the laboratory team and its commitment to implementing the highest quality standards, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of test results and supporting broader efforts to improve food and water safety across Iraq.

ISO 17025 is a leading international standard for assessing the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It establishes requirements related to technical competence, quality management systems, and the accuracy and reliability of laboratory testing and calibration results.