Report on pesticide residues in Cypriot food products

A report from the General State Laboratory of Cyprus for 2025 has identified pesticide residues, including some substances unauthorized in the European Union, in various food products such as tomatoes, pulses, herbs, vine leaves, table grapes, and honey. Data indicates that 13.1% of the 466 analyzed vegetable-origin samples contained residues. Critics, including Assistant Professor Menelaos Stavrinidis of the Cyprus University of Technology, have expressed concern over agricultural practices and the delay in reporting, which often means consumers have already eaten the products by the time results are published.

In response to the report, the Director of the General State Laboratory, Rebecca Kokkinofta, clarified that the presence of residues does not automatically imply a safety violation or an exceedance of legal limits. She explained that out of the 466 samples tested, only 7.3% showed actual limit exceedances. The Laboratory acts as the final control stage, relaying findings to the Department of Agriculture and other authorities for regulatory action. The discourse highlights an ongoing tension between laboratory testing timelines and public health transparency regarding pesticide use in local agricultural production.