Cyprus faces infringement proceedings over asbestos protection delay

Cyprus is currently under infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission due to its failure to timely incorporate Directive (EU) 2023/2668 into national law. This directive, which aims to protect workers from asbestos exposure by reducing the permissible limit of asbestos fibers to one-tenth of the previous threshold of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter, had a transposition deadline of December 21, 2025.

On January 30, 2026, the European Commission issued warning letters to ten member states that failed to notify the necessary legislative measures, with Cyprus being one of the six states that remained non-compliant after the initial two-month response period. If the failure to conform persists, the Commission may escalate the process by issuing a reasoned opinion.

In response to a parliamentary question raised in July 2026 by AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas regarding the carcinogenic risks of asbestos, Minister of Labour Marinos Mousiouttas confirmed that the Cabinet has approved a new regulatory framework. This legislation is currently before the House of Representatives under an urgent procedure to address the backlog and ensure the protection of workers from lethal asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.