Thousands of laboratory tests on food and water are carried out every year in Cyprus, providing the necessary data for the early detection of risks and the protection of public health, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said on Friday, in the context of a press conference for World Food Safety Day, during which data were presented showing a reduction in non-compliant food samples to 2.7% in 2025 from 3.7% the previous year.
According to the data, the Health Services imposed administrative fines of €47,195 on 91 businesses for violations of the law.
In his address, the Minister of Health said that the Government is promoting a bill for the creation of a National Food Safety Authority, which will undertake the coordination and supervision of official controls by the competent bodies and food laboratories.
As he said, the new Authority will contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of controls, improving coordination between services and shaping a single national strategy for food safety and hygiene.
According to Mr. Charalambidis, the thousands of laboratory tests carried out annually provide the necessary data to the competent authorities to identify potential risks in a timely manner, take corrective measures and effectively protect public health.
As he said, this year's World Food Safety Day, with the slogan "From burden to solutions – Safe food everywhere", highlights the crucial role of scientific data in policy formulation, risk management and informed decision-making.
Mr. Charalambides described the State General Laboratory as a key pillar for the production of scientific data on food safety, underlining, at the same time, the important role of the Health Services in the implementation of the relevant legislation and in the development of an integrated food safety policy.
For her part, the Director of the General Chemical State Laboratory, Rebecca Kokkinofta, said that in 2025, a total of 6,680 food and bottled water samples were examined, of which 187 were found to be out of specification, a rate of 2,7%.
As he noted, the corresponding percentage in 2024 amounted to 3.7%, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the control programs.
He added that the inspections led to the detection of unsuitable food and other products both in the market and at critical points of entry into Cyprus and the European Union, while also contributing to the implementation of corrective measures by food businesses.
Ms. Kokkinofta also mentioned that the State General Laboratory has been providing scientific support for decades to ensure food safety and public health, adding that its close cooperation with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has significantly strengthened national risk assessment and communication capabilities.
The Head of Health Services, Herodotos Herodotou, stated that during 2025, checks were carried out at the Limassol port on 8.096 food cargoes, which included document checks, physical checks and sampling, mainly on nuts, fruits, vegetables and spices.
He added that a total of 139 samples were taken, while 11 consignments were deemed non-compliant.
Regarding Larnaca airport, he said that 568 cargoes were examined, 11 samples were taken and one non-compliant cargo was identified.
At the same time, the Health Services made 24 notifications, through the European early warning system after the detection of unsuitable food linked to other Member States.
Mr. Herodotou also said that administrative fines were imposed on 91 businesses, totalling €47,195, noting that these measures contribute to strengthening the compliance of businesses with the legislation.
Referring to citizens' complaints, he said that in 2025, 250 complaints about hygiene issues were submitted, all of which were investigated in a short period of time, which, as he said, strengthens the public's trust in the competent services.
CNA
