Sell Cosmetics in Cyprus: Compliance Guide for the Cypriot Market

• Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health are the competent authority for cosmetics in Cyprus under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
• Labels may be in Greek or English — English-only labelling is fully compliant.
• Law N57(I)/2017 is the national framework governing cosmetic product notification and manufacturing authorisations in Cyprus.

1. The EU framework applies — notify once, sell everywhere

Cyprus applies Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 directly — the harmonised rules that govern cosmetic products across the entire European Union. There is no parallel national regime: the safety, composition, and labelling rules are the same as in the rest of the EU.

In practice, selling in Cyprus within the EU framework means meeting four common obligations that are not specific to this country:

• A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including Cyprus.
• A single EU-established Responsible Person is accountable for the product.
• A single product information file (PIF), which includes the cosmetic product safety report (CPSR).

This guide does not repeat that common framework — it focuses on what is specific to Cyprus. For the cross-cutting concepts, see also what the CosIng database is and how to use it.

2. The national competent authority

The competent authority for cosmetics in Cyprus is the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health (Φαρμακευτικές Υπηρεσίες). This body is the contact point for CPNP notifications and for compliance questions under Regulation 1223/2009 on the Cypriot market. It manages the notification regime, carries out market surveillance, and acts as the national contact point to the European Commission for cosmetovigilance matters.

The Pharmaceutical Services cosmetics page is at: moh.gov.cy/phs. For enquiries: phscentral@phs.moh.gov.cy.

Law N57(I)/2017 also establishes a Cosmetics Council under the Ministry of Health, responsible for issuing manufacturing authorisations for cosmetics production facilities located in Cyprus. The Pharmaceutical Services manage the notification regime and market surveillance. For companies not manufacturing on Cypriot territory, the standard EU framework applies: the Responsible Person notifies via CPNP, maintains a compliant PIF, and ensures the product meets all requirements of Regulation 1223/2009 before it is placed on the market.

3. Labelling language requirements

Cyprus accepts Greek or English for all mandatory label elements under Article 19(5) of Regulation 1223/2009. Since both are official languages of the Republic of Cyprus, a label written exclusively in English is fully compliant with applicable legislation.

INCI ingredient names are exempt from the language requirement: as internationally standardised nomenclature, they may appear in their original form without translation.

In commercial practice, many products on the Cypriot market carry bilingual labels (Greek and English) to serve the local bilingual consumer base. However, from a compliance perspective, English alone is sufficient.

Key distinction from Greece: The Greek market requires Greek to be present on labels — English-only does not comply. Cyprus is the opposite: English-only is fully valid. This distinction matters for companies distributing across both countries, since Cyprus can be served with the same English-language labelling used in other English-accepting EU markets such as Ireland or Malta. See our guide to selling cosmetics in Greece for the contrast.

4. National particularities

Law N57(I)/2017

Cosmetic Products Law N57(I)/2017 is the Cypriot national instrument that incorporates Regulation 1223/2009 and designates the Pharmaceutical Services as the competent authority. It defines the structure of the Cosmetics Council and establishes the basis for manufacturing authorisations. For companies importing products from third countries or from other EU member states and placing them on the Cypriot market, this law sets the obligations for importers and distributors acting as economic operators under the Regulation, including PIF accessibility and cosmetovigilance reporting requirements.

English-language labelling advantage

The acceptance of English as the sole labelling language is the most practically relevant particularity of Cyprus for international manufacturers and importers. There is no need to prepare Cyprus-specific labelling materials if products already carry English-language labels for other EU markets that accept English (such as Ireland or Malta). This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of labelling workflows for brands expanding their distribution to Cyprus from English-speaking or English-first markets.

Bilingual market

In commercial practice, products sold in Cyprus often include both Greek and English on packaging, reflecting the bilingual character of the local market. From a compliance standpoint, however, there is no obligation to include both languages.

Cosmetovigilance

Serious undesirable effect notifications under Article 23 of Regulation 1223/2009 are directed to the Pharmaceutical Services. Economic operators — manufacturers, importers, and distributors — are required to notify the Pharmaceutical Services as soon as a serious undesirable effect attributable to a cosmetic product comes to their attention. Records of such notifications must be retained as part of the product's compliance documentation and made available on request.

For ingredient composition management and verification against the Regulation 1223/2009 annexes, consult the CosIng database.

For other markets in the Mediterranean region, see our guides to Greece and Malta.

5. Frequently asked questions

Which authority regulates cosmetics in Cyprus? The Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health (Φαρμακευτικές Υπηρεσίες) are the competent authority for cosmetics in Cyprus under Law N57(I)/2017.

What language must cosmetic labels be in for Cyprus? Greek or English — both are official languages of Cyprus. English-only labelling is fully compliant, which is a practical advantage over most continental EU markets including Greece, where Greek is mandatory.

Do I need a separate notification for Cyprus? No: a single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including Cyprus. There is no additional national registration for placing cosmetics on the market.

Are there national particularities beyond Regulation 1223/2009? The main particularity is Law N57(I)/2017, the national instrument that designates the Pharmaceutical Services as competent authority and establishes the Cosmetics Council for manufacturing authorisations. The acceptance of English-only labelling is the most practically relevant advantage.