Filenews 28 November 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
Auricular acupuncture, Su Jok, electroacupuncture, laser techniques and Chinese herbalism are officially introduced in Cyprus through a bill that is already before the Parliament's Health Committee.
The proposal includes the regulation of naturopathy and traditional acupuncture/electroacupuncture, and its enactment into law will cover an area that until now did not have a clear legal guarantee.
The text of the proposed law includes detailed definitions of all acupuncture methods applied in Cyprus, from the classical techniques of traditional Chinese medicine to more modern energy and electrotherapeutic practices.
These include auricular acupuncture, cranial acupuncture, the Su Jok method, electroacupuncture, the application of electrical pulses and laser techniques, as well as Chinese herbalism and nutritional support.
In addition to acupuncture, the bill extensively describes naturopathy as a system of alternative holistic medicine, encompassing a range of therapeutic approaches such as herbal medicine, orthomolecular nutrition, manual therapy techniques, electroenergetic methods, aromatherapy, and interventions aimed at improving the individual's lifestyle and functionality.
A central element of the proposed law is the establishment of the Council for the Registration of Naturopaths and Acupuncturists, a five-member body that will undertake the supervision of the profession.
Its responsibilities include the maintenance of official registers, the evaluation of qualifications and the issuance of licenses to practice the profession, the licensing of clinics and hospitals, as well as the imposition of disciplinary sanctions. The term of office of the members is set at five years and the composition includes a representative of the Ministry of Health, two professionals of the sector and a representative of the respective Association.
Registration in the Registers will be mandatory for the practice of the profession and is accompanied by specific academic and professional criteria.
Specifically, and as provided for in the proposed law, a university degree or a recognized diploma will be required, while acupuncture is provided for an internship of 800 – 1,000 hours in a recognized center.
In addition, it is required to be at the age of 21, not to have a criminal record for offenses of moral obscenity and to have sufficient knowledge of the Greek language.
The license to practice the profession will be renewed annually with a corresponding fee, while the Registrar will keep the data and issue the registration certificates.
A separate license will be required for the operation of naturopathy and acupuncture clinics or centers, and even the voluntary provision of services is allowed only with the approval of the Council. A procedure for the recognition of qualifications for professionals from other EU member states is also foreseen.
The disciplinary framework includes the establishment of a Disciplinary Board and procedures for investigating violations, with the possibility of imposing sanctions ranging from a warning to permanent deletion from the Registers. Provision is also provided for dealing with incidents of misleading or dangerous exercise of a profession.
The draft law also provides for the establishment of a Pancyprian Association of Registered Naturopaths and Acupuncturists/Electroacupuncturists, which will institutionally represent the professionals, draw up a code of ethics and cooperate with the Registration Council.
The draft law was prepared at the request of the professionals themselves, who recently and speaking before the parliamentary committee on health, argued that the lack of an institutional framework leaves open the entry to unqualified people who serve unsuspecting citizens, with all the risks that may arise for their health.
However, this particular law proposal, according to information from "F", has already caused reactions on the part of the Pancyprian Medical Association, which must be considered certain that in the coming days it will take an official position.
