Label rules › Cyprus
Cyprus label requirements for packaging
Cyprus is in the European Union, so the label of a prepackaged food sold in the Republic of Cyprus follows Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, which applies directly in every member state. The Health Services of the Ministry of Health inspect food on the market, and the State General Laboratory analyses samples — ingredients, allergens, additives, nutrition values. Here is what holds in October 2026, and how Cypriot packs are laid out.
Checked: 27 October 2026
Mandatory items
| On the label | Means |
|---|---|
| Ονομασία | The name of the food — its legal name, or else a customary or descriptive one; a trade mark or fancy name never replaces it (Articles 9 and 17) |
| Συστατικά | The list of ingredients, headed by a word including «συστατικά», in descending order of weight when the food is made (Articles 9 and 18) |
| Αλλεργιογόνα | The 14 allergens of Annex II (gluten cereals, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupin, molluscs) set apart in the ingredients by type — bold, for example; without a list, after «Περιέχει» (Article 21) |
| Καθαρή ποσότητα | Net quantity in litres, centilitres, millilitres, kilograms or grams; for solids in a liquid medium, the drained net weight too (Article 23, Annex IX) |
| Ανάλωση κατά προτίμηση πριν από … | Date of minimum durability, «best before …» (or «… τέλος» with the month and year); very perishable food says «Ανάλωση έως …», use by, and frozen food the date of freezing (Article 24, Annex X) |
| Συνθήκες διατήρησης | Special storage conditions and conditions of use, and after opening where needed (Articles 9 and 25) |
| Παρασκευαστής / Εισαγωγέας | Name and address of the food business operator under whose name the food is sold, or of the importer into the EU (Articles 8 and 9) |
| Χώρα καταγωγής | Country or place of origin where leaving it out could mislead, and always for certain foods (fresh meat, honey, olive oil, fruit and vegetables); if it differs from the primary ingredient’s, say so (Article 26, Regulation (EU) 2018/775) |
| Διατροφική δήλωση | Energy (kJ / kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt per 100 g or 100 ml, as a table where space allows; per portion as well, if wished (Articles 30–35, Annex XV) |
| Παρτίδα (L) | The lot the food belongs to, usually after the letter «L» (Directive 2011/91/EU) |
| % vol | Actual alcoholic strength by volume, for drinks with more than 1.2 % alcohol, in the same field of vision as the name and the net quantity (Articles 9 and 13) |
| Για τρόφιμα | On packaging that touches food: the words «for food contact» or the glass-and-fork symbol, unless the use is obvious (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, Article 15) |
Food: Regulation (EU) 1169/2011
Article 9 lists what every prepackaged food states: the name; the list of ingredients; the allergens; the quantity of certain ingredients; the net quantity; the date of minimum durability or the use-by date; special storage conditions and conditions of use; the name and address of the food business operator; the country or place of origin where needed; instructions for use where needed; the alcoholic strength above 1.2 % vol; and the nutrition declaration. The lot comes from Directive 2011/91/EU, usually after the letter «L».
The ingredients follow a heading with the word «Συστατικά», in descending order of weight. The 14 allergens of Annex II are set apart in the list by type — bold, italic, a colour — and, where there is no list, follow the word «Περιέχει» (Article 21).
Article 13 and Annex IV: the mandatory text has an x-height of at least 1.2 mm; on packs whose largest surface is under 80 cm², at least 0.9 mm. The name, the net quantity and the alcoholic strength stand in the same field of vision.
Greek on the pack
Article 15 lets each member state ask for the mandatory particulars in its official languages. For the market of the Republic of Cyprus the label is given in Greek; another language may stand beside it — English is common on Cypriot packs, Turkish appears too — provided the Greek is complete and at least as legible. An imported food is given a Greek label or sticker before it is sold. Confirm the details for a product with the Health Services.
Dates and nutrition
Article 24 and Annex X: the date of minimum durability reads «Ανάλωση κατά προτίμηση πριν από …» followed by the day and month, the month and year, or the year, depending on how long the food keeps («… τέλος» when only the month or year is given); very perishable food reads «Ανάλωση έως …», followed by the storage conditions. Frozen meat, meat preparations and unprocessed fish also give the date of freezing.
Articles 30–35 and Annex XV: energy (kJ and kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt, per 100 g or 100 ml, in a table where space allows, in one field of vision; values per portion may be added. Packs whose largest surface is under 25 cm², and the foods of Annex V (unprocessed single-ingredient products, herbs and spices, salt, water, tea and coffee, among others), are exempt.
Cypriot products
Χαλλούμι / Hellim is a protected designation of origin (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/591): only cheese made in Cyprus to its specification may use the name, and the pack may carry the red-and-yellow EU PDO symbol. The sweet wine Κουμανδαρία is a PDO too. Use the official symbol files, never a redrawn one.
Honey and olive oil, both common Cypriot gifts, name their country of origin (for blends, the EU / non-EU wording the rules give), and virgin olive oils follow the marketing standards for olive oil.
The packaging itself
Packaging meant to touch food follows Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004: the words «για τρόφιμα» (for food contact) or the glass-and-fork symbol, unless the use is obvious. Plastics follow Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. Ask the client’s packaging supplier for the material code and the recycling marks they use.
Laying it out in Drint
- Drint has no Cyprus label kit yet and does not check these rules. Lay the label on the back panel with Insert → Product label or text blocks.
- Paste the client’s Greek text as it is — Drint does not translate. Set the allergens in bold.
- Insert → Nutrition table → Table (France / EU) builds the seven rows of Article 30 per 100 g; type the Greek row names the client sent.
- Keep the mandatory text at an x-height of 1.2 mm or more (0.9 mm on packs under 80 cm²): with most Greek faces that means about 7 pt or larger. Greek capitals drop the accents — set headings in capitals as the client wrote them, never with tonos on the capitals.
- Check in Export still finds text near the cut, small text, low-resolution pictures and ink problems.
Questions
Must the label be in Greek?
For the market of the Republic of Cyprus, yes: the mandatory particulars are given in Greek (Regulation 1169/2011, Article 15); other languages may be added beside them, and imports are given a Greek sticker before sale.
How small can the text be?
An x-height of at least 1.2 mm, or 0.9 mm when the largest surface of the pack is under 80 cm² (Article 13, Annex IV).
Is a pack made for Greece fine for Cyprus?
Usually: both follow the same EU regulation and both read Greek. Check the name and address of the operator or importer, any national particulars, and that the dates and the lot are printed.
Who checks the labels in Cyprus?
The Health Services of the Ministry of Health inspect food on the market and at import; the State General Laboratory analyses samples. Ask the Health Services when a product falls in a special group (food supplements, foods for infants, novel foods).
A summary written to design packs, not legal advice. Before printing, check the current text of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on EUR-Lex, and the label with your client or the Health Services of the Ministry of Health.