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Certificate of Analysis Legalization for Arab Countries
Arab food, drug and standards authorities, and many importers, ask for a certificate of analysis (COA): the lab results showing that a product or batch meets its specification. It may be needed once, to register a product, or with each shipment. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce prepares your COA for certification and completes the apostille or embassy route for the destination.
A lab’s signature has to be notarized. A COA is issued by your quality lab or an independent laboratory, not by a government office. The lab director or QA manager signs it before a notary, and that notarization is what the state and embassy certify. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept a state apostille. The other Arab countries add the U.S. Department of State and the embassy.
What a Certificate of Analysis Is
A certificate of analysis reports the test results for a product, usually for a specific batch or lot, against its specification: composition, purity, microbiology, contaminants and similar tests. It is issued by the manufacturer’s quality department or by an independent laboratory. Regulators use it to approve products, and importers and customs use it to release batches.
Manufacturer’s COA
Issued by your own quality control lab for each batch.
Most commonThird-party lab report
Issued by an independent accredited laboratory. Often preferred by regulators.
IndependentRegistration COA
A representative batch tested for the product registration file.
One-timeShipment COA
Matches the batch on the invoice and packing list for customs release.
Per shipmentChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the COA will be used to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsSigned by the lab or QA manager before a notary → state apostille
Final stepApostille (since July 9, 2026)
U.S. stepsSigned by the lab or QA manager before a notary → state apostille
Final stepApostille
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsSigned by the lab or QA manager before a notary → state apostille
Final stepApostille
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsSigned by the lab or QA manager before a notary → state apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State authentication
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
Embassies usually charge commercial-document rates for COAs, and fees vary by country. We confirm the amount with your order.
How a Certificate of Analysis Is Legalized
- Issue the COA on letterheadShow the product name and code, batch or lot number, dates of manufacture and expiry, the tests, methods, specifications and results.
- Lab or QA signature before a notaryThe lab director or QA manager signs in person before a U.S. notary. For a third-party lab, its own authorized signer signs.
- Secretary of StateThe notary’s state certifies the notary. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, this apostille completes the U.S. steps.
- Federal and embassy stepsFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal, and then the embassy in Washington legalizes the COA. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global, then MOFA.
- Returned with trackingReady for the registration file or to travel with the shipment documents.
Common mistakes: a batch number that doesn’t match the invoice or packing list, missing manufacture or expiry dates, an unsigned printout from the lab system, or results that don’t say which method and specification were used. For shipments, legalize the COA early, because it has to arrive with the cargo.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The COA on letterhead, signed by the lab or QA manager before a notary.
- For shipments, the matching invoice and packing list, so we can check batch numbers.
- Your online order for the destination country, paid online or through Pay Invoice.
- A prepaid return label: a FedEx or UPS air waybill, or a USPS Priority Mail envelope with tracking. You can also buy one at checkout.
What the COA should show
- Product name, code and batch or lot number
- Manufacture and expiry dates
- Each test, its method, the specification and the result
- The signer’s name, title and signature, made before the notary
Documents Filed With the COA
Processing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | State apostille |
| Notary | On the lab signature |
| Time | Varies by state |
Embassy countries
| State and U.S. Department of State | Required |
| Embassy fee | By country |
| Time | Call us; plan for the ship date |
Timing starts when your notarized COA reaches us. Our service fee and return courier are listed at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Batch numbers checkedWe compare the COA with your invoice and packing list before it goes out.
Shipment-awareWe plan the route around your vessel or flight date.
Product file in one orderCOA, TDS, free sale certificate and ISO certificate, legalized together.
Where to Send Your COA
Maryland office (fastest)
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 349-1212
Washington, D.C. headquarters
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1, Washington, DC
(202) 347-5800
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
Certificate of Analysis Legalization: Common Questions
Who signs a certificate of analysis for legalization?
The lab director or QA manager who is responsible for the results, or an authorized signer at the independent lab. They sign in person before a U.S. notary.
Do I need a new legalized COA for every shipment?
For product registration, usually one representative COA is enough. If customs or your importer wants a COA with each shipment, each batch needs its own.
Is a COA legalized like a commercial invoice?
No. A COA is a lab document, so it is notarized and then follows the document route. An invoice gets the chamber stamp instead. If your buyer also wants the chamber stamp on the COA, we can add it.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled COA?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (Algeria since July 9, 2026). Oman and the other Arab countries need embassy legalization for business documents.
Can a third-party lab report be legalized?
Yes. The lab’s authorized signer signs it before a notary, and it then follows the same route as your own COA.
Shipping or registering a product?
Tell us the ship date or registration deadline. We’ll plan your COA legalization around it.
Case 1 Examples
Business documents
Federally Issued documents
Case 2 Examples
Commercial Document:
Case 3 Examples
Personal Document:
Mailing
If you are using FedEx or UPS, please include a self-addressed air waybill for the return of your document.
Alternatively, you may use a USPS Priority Mail envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number.
If you do not have a FedEx or UPS account, you can purchase an air waybill through this site in the next step.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Headquarter Office
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 347-5800
1 888-939-ARAB
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd.Annapolis MD, 21409
(410) 349 - 1212
