Filenews 9 February 2026
A proposal for the institutional recognition of guide dogs, in order to ensure the independent living of the disabled, was submitted by the Member of Parliament of the Ecologists' Movement, Charalambos Theopemptou, and discussed on Monday by the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, with several Ministries and services expressing agreement, while the members of the Committee praised the initiative to fill the legislative gap, since, As mentioned, similar legislation exists in at least 20 EU member states.
However, there was no shortage of objections and comments, especially regarding the designation of a competent authority for dog training and certification, but also with the administrative costs that will arise for the state.
Specifically, the Director of Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, noted that as far as the Dog Law is concerned, the competent authority is the Ministry of the Interior and the local government authorities, adding that, correspondingly, the veterinary services will not have responsibilities for guide dogs either.
However, the representatives of the Union of Municipalities and the Union of Communities expressed satisfaction with the submission of this proposal, in order to regulate issues that do not fall under the Dogs Law. They also supported the operation of a single authority for the certification of guide dog trainers and the assignment of responsibilities to individual local government authorities, so that there is uniformity in management.
In addition, the Director of the School for the Blind expressed the opinion that the competent authority should be able to evaluate trainers of guide dogs, as well as their living conditions, raising the question of whether local authorities have sufficient and appropriate staff to undertake such a thing.
On behalf of the Legal Service, the lawyer of the Republic, Alexis Antoniadis, underlined that, before the law proposal proceeds, the issue of the competent authority should be clarified, noting that a service should be selected that will also have the ability to meet the requirements of the law.
Mr. Antoniadis also referred to the cost that will arise from the implementation of the provisions of the law for the state, noting that the increase in administrative costs may raise the issue of the unconstitutionality of the law. In response, Mr. Theopemptou noted that the state should have taken care to fill this legislative gap and that, if an attempt is made to cover it with a proposed law, the Government should help to meet the needs.
In this direction, the President of the Committee and Member of Parliament of AKEL, Irini Charalambidou, also advocated, pointing out that this issue should have already been regulated by the Government and that the least it should do is to support this initiative. She also cited as an example the good cooperation she had with the Ministry of the Interior to promote the proposal for a law on the certification of specialized volunteers.
Finally, Mr. Antoniadis referred to a number of issues related to security, asking for them to be examined in more detail. He noted that there is civil liability with the entry of an animal into a place or means of transport, as well as an issue of private insurance on the part of the person accompanying the animal. Ms. Charalambidou, who also raised the issue of the insurance of the animal itself, noted that in the context of the consultation that will follow in the Committee, the views of the insurance services should also be sought.
The issue of the welfare and living of dogs was also raised by the Medical Services Officer of the Ministry of Health, Stalo Panayidou, noting that similar legislation abroad provides for the duration of the employment of guide dogs, their living conditions and their withdrawal from this work. He also noted that the category of guide dogs should be clarified for each individual case of disability, so that the legislation covers all cases.
However, despite the agreement expressed on behalf of the Ministry of Transport, the Deputy Director of the Department of Road Transport, Eleni Pipi, also expressed some concerns in relation to restrictions that may exist during the entry of guide dogs on tourist buses or taxis, suggesting that the possibility of providing for the installation of a muzzle in these cases be considered, something with which the President of the Committee also expressed disagreement, as well as representatives of disabled bodies.
On behalf of KYSOA, Paola Frantzi, expressing satisfaction with the initiative taken by Mr. Theopemptou, added that the definition of disability included in the law should be based on the definition included in the relevant UN Convention. He then made special reference to the high cost required by the training of guide dogs, noting that this makes it prohibitive for the vast majority of disabled people to acquire them, while he suggested that state funding should be established to cover this cost. He also underlined the importance of enacting legislation that will contribute to ensuring the independent living of people with disabilities.
The President of the Pancyprian Organization of the Blind, Christakis Nicolaides, also expressed satisfaction with the proposed law, stating that at least 20 EU member states have a similar regulation. Andreas Fotiadis, Treasurer of the Pancyprian Association for the Welfare of the Blind, expressed concern about whether society as a whole will accept such legislation, as well as about the cost of the care and health of a guide dog, which should be paid.
Finally, the President of the Pancyprian Association of Recreation Center Owners (PASIKA), Fanos Leventis, expressed reservations about the introduction of mandatory entry of guide dogs in recreation areas, noting that the position of the Association will also depend on the estimate that exists in relation to the number of guide dogs in Cyprus. He also suggested that specific criteria be set for the places that will be able and willing to accommodate guide dogs, so that they can do so voluntarily and create the appropriate infrastructure, which, as he said, will have a cost.
In response to Mr. Leventis' remarks, Ms. Frantzi from KYSOA noted that it is unacceptable to optionally introduce a regulation aimed at the independent living of the disabled. "We all have the right to free access," he underlined.
In her statements after the meeting, the President of the Committee and Member of Parliament of AKEL, Irini Charalambidou, noted that, as it became clear during the first meeting for the law proposal, some time will be needed for further consultations, with an emphasis on the issue of insurance, which was raised by the Legal Service.
He underlined, however, that when an effort is made to modernize society, everyone should focus on how to achieve the goal and not just on the changes that each side will need to make for this to happen. "It will certainly not be something easy, but I think it is particularly important for many of our fellow citizens," he said.
The rapporteur of the bill and Member of Parliament of the Movement of Ecologists, Charalambos Theopemptou, in his statements after the meeting, expressed his disappointment with the reluctance that, as he said, was expressed by the Veterinary Services to assume responsibilities, but also for the remarks of the Lawyer of the Republic for the possibility of unconstitutionality, due to an increase in costs. He also called on the Government to take responsibility for this regulation to proceed, pointing out that it has been in force abroad for years.
Besides, answering a journalist's question about whether he will seek a meeting with some services, at the urging of the President of the Committee, Mr. Theopemptou said that he will seek to have a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panagiotou, on the issue of the responsibilities of the veterinary services.
CNA
