The State General Laboratory (SGL) carries out regular official controls and surveillance on foodstuffs, covering all sections of the food production chain, "from the field or farm to the consumer’s table". For this purpose, it implements various national control programmes with the cooperation of the competent authorities. Controls are of a preventive nature and focus mainly on basic foods that are consumed frequently or may give rise to a specific problem as well as on foodstuffs expected to be consumed by vulnerable groups of the population, such as children and pregnant women. The SGL goes one step beyond analysis. It evaluates the degree of exposure to toxic substances and to related risks, therefore providing scientifically sound advice to the FSC and to competent authorities for risk management through appropriate measures. The SGL of the MOH is the national EFSA Advisory Forum member and the EFSA Focal Point.

The SGL is accredited under ISO 17025 by the Cyprus Accreditation Body (CYS-CYS AB) and six National Reference Laboratories are attached to the SGL pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 2017/625.