Transport of Animal-Origin Food

Transfer of Food of Animal Origin

General Information

In order to transfer food of animal origin in the Republic of Cyprus one needs to obtain a license by the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.

The Veterinary Services grants a license to transfer food of animal origin only in cases where:

  • the specifications and conditions of the “For the Hygienic production of food of animal origin and placing on the market and for other relative matters Law”, L.150(I) / 2003 are fulfilled;
  • the transportation is performed with vehicles having refrigerators that fulfill the requirements of Chapter IV of Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 and the requirements of Chapter VII of Department I of Annex III of the Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004;
  • the products carried are accompanied with the relevant documents;
  • during transportation, the cold chain of the products is not interrupted under any circumstances and the transportation temperature is the correct one.

The application for obtaining a license for transferring food of animal origin can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:

Veterinary Services
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1417 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22805208/22805167
Fax: +357 22805139
E-mail: director@vs.moa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/vs/vs.nsf

  1. There are is no requirement for accompanying certificates to be submitted with the application.

The registration fee is €50 and can be paid, upon approval, either by cash or cheque.

Additionally, an on-the-spot inspection by the District Veterinary Office is carried out in order to examine the vehicle’s compliance with the requirements of the Regulation. Thus, the Officer recommends the issuance of the vehicle license and the duration of time.

The applicant is informed regarding the authorization decision within three weeks from the date that the application form and supporting documents were duly submitted.

The license is valid indefinitely.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

Authorized transporters must comply with the provisions of the Law Regulating the Hygiene of the Production and Distribution to the Market of Animal-Origin Food and Other Related Matters Law of 2003 (150(I)/2003), as periodically ammended or replaced.

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