Serious irregularities and worrying findings are recorded in products containing cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and related substances, according to data submitted to the Parliament by the Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambidis, in response to a question by AKEL MP, Marina Nikolaou.
Tests carried out by the State General Laboratory on 277 products in 2024 showed that 88% were incorrectly labelled, 43% contained new psychoactive substances (NPS), mainly semi-synthetic cannabinoids, while 42% contained CBD in combination with illegal cannabinoids, such as THC and cannabinol (CBN).
Only 15% of the products contained exclusively CBD. The minister states that the General Chemical State Laboratory sent an urgent letter to the Attorney General and all stakeholders, requesting to consider the possibility of suspending the operation of stores that have pharmaceutical preparations without the required licenses or products containing controlled substances.
However, it is clarified that the current legislation does not directly provide for the suspension or revocation of the operating license of stores due to the sale of food containing psychotropic or related substances. In cases of systematic violation of the law, the taking of measures falls within the competence of the Police.
At the same time, the competent services are implementing a series of measures to control the market. The Health Services and the General Laboratory carry out annual food sampling programs with ingredients from industrial hemp, in order to verify their compliance with the permitted THC limits provided by European legislation.
In 2025, 14 targeted operations were carried out in shops selling industrial hemp items, during which products containing cannabidiol in forms such as gummies, biscuits and lollipops were seized.
According to the Cyprus Addictions Authority, to date no marketing authorization has been granted for these products in Cyprus, which makes their distribution by retail stores illegal. The competent authorities continue to coordinate and intensify controls, with the aim of restricting the circulation of products containing prohibited or dangerous substances.
