Cyprus is advancing legislation to establish a food safety authority with sweeping powers to oversee the country’s entire food supply chain, from farm to supermarket shelf, according to a draft bill prepared by the Ministry of Health.
The proposed authority will supervise all food inspections conducted by existing bodies and laboratories, with binding recommendations for official agencies. The bill has completed legal vetting by the Law Office and is expected to be submitted to parliament shortly, barring unforeseen circumstances.
The new body will hold responsibility for ensuring food quality, animal feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health and the safety of plant protection products. Its remit extends beyond primary inspections to include secondary audits of competent authorities and laboratories to guarantee product quality before items reach consumers.
New authority to oversee inspectors and enforce food safety standards
The authority will possess powers to annul decisions by other agencies when deemed illegal or insufficient, demand additional inspections and impose fines for violations or obstruction of controls. These enforcement capabilities represent a significant consolidation of oversight within Cyprus’s food safety framework.
Beyond regulatory enforcement, the authority will shape national policy and strategy for food chain security, collect and analyse scientific data for risk assessment, and provide expert opinions. It will represent the Republic of Cyprus in European and international bodies, working alongside the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority.
The body will serve as a contact point with other countries and international organisations for addressing existing and emerging risks in the food chain. Daily operations will include selective sampling of primary inspections, examination of inspection methods and procedures, monitoring of inspector training and observation of on-site processes.
Powers extend to audits, fines and consumer protection from mislabelling
A critical function involves protecting consumers from potential food adulteration and misleading labels, claims or marketing messages. The authority will also manage an information and services platform, setting equipment specifications, training personnel from agencies and laboratories, and maintaining social media accounts for public information purposes.
According to the draft legislation, core responsibilities regarding food will include formulating national policy and strategy for food safety and hygiene across the entire food chain, coordinating and supervising official inspections conducted by competent authorities and food laboratories to ensure market products are safe and compliant with legislation, and conducting secondary inspections of these bodies to verify inspection effectiveness and reliability.
The authority will collect, analyse and process scientific data concerning potential food risks to enable risk assessment and management. It will collaborate with the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority and international organisations to harmonise Cypriot practices with European and international standards. Issuing guidelines and establishing proper hygiene practice rules for food businesses will fall under its purview.
The authority’s powers extend to rewarding compliant businesses whilst imposing fines on violators. It will issue binding opinions and orders, annul decisions and recommend implementation of administrative sanctions and penalties.
Specific powers include issuing binding decisions to official bodies and laboratories, cancelling illegal decisions by agencies and ordering lawful actions when omissions are identified, and commanding official inspections at any food or feed business with mandatory submission of hygiene and safety reports. Agencies must respond within a “reasonable” time or as specified by the authority.
The body will determine sanctions, including imposing administrative fines on anyone obstructing or hindering its inspections. The legislation also provides a framework for rewarding compliance.
Seven-member governing board to lead independent public body
The bill establishes an Advisory Body with up to 21 members to provide strategic guidance. A directorate for risk assessment, food science and consumer protection will undertake scientific studies, public information and education, whilst subcommittees will address specialised scientific and technical areas.
The authority will operate as a public law legal entity with complete administrative and operational independence. A seven-member governing board appointed by the Council of Ministers will direct operations.
The chairman and deputy chairman will work on a full-time, exclusive basis. Remaining members must possess scientific and administrative experience in fields including hygiene, veterinary science, agriculture, chemistry, biology, nutrition or related disciplines.
Funding will come from the state budget, with requirements for maintaining accounts and authority to issue regulations for effective operation.
Whilst the government’s intentions remain unchanged, the final text ultimately passed into law remains uncertain. Potential amendments during parliamentary scrutiny could bring significant changes to the authority’s operational philosophy as conceived by the Ministry of Health.
Reactions may emerge from affected stakeholders, including companies involved in importing or selling food, animal feed or plant protection products.
