Civil liability of agricultural engineering consultancy offices: A comparative study

Agricultural engineering consultancy offices constitute a fundamental pillar in the development of the agricultural sector. Farmers and agricultural project owners often resort to these offices for professional and technical advice to address the challenges facing their projects. Such consultation contributes to the optimal use of resources and promotes sustainable agricultural development. The significance of these offices lies in their reliance on specialists with professional expertise in agricultural engineering, enabling them to analyze issues accurately and derive appropriate and beneficial solutions. This research examines the civil liability of agricultural engineering consultancy offices. It aims to identify the legal nature of this liability, define its essential elements, and clarify the consequences arising from its realization. The goal is to enable clients to claim compensation in the event of a breach of contractual or professional obligations. The research adopts both the analytical and comparative methods by analyzing relevant legal texts in Iraqi legislation and comparing them with the laws of other jurisdictions that have regulated this type of professional activity more comprehensively. The study concludes that Iraqi legislation lacks specific provisions governing the civil liability of agricultural engineering consultancy offices. Accordingly, it is necessary to rely on the general rules of civil law, which are sufficient to determine the nature of such liability-primarily contractual in nature. The study also recommends amending the Instructions for Agricultural Engineering Consultancy Offices No. (2) of 1989 to align with the provisions of the Law on Non-Governmental Consultancy Offices No. (16) of 2000, thereby ensuring effective legal protection for clients’ rights.