Veterinary Services (VS) are responsible for animal health and welfare and for public health protection by controlling food of animal origin by registering and approving the food-producing and processing facilities. VS are also responsible for monitoring the registration and usage of medicinal products for animal use.

VS design programmes for the control, monitoring and eradication of animal diseases as well as animal welfare in food and non-food producing animals.

Additionally, VS are responsible for implementing public health protection by controlling food of animal origin. Its remit comprises the whole production chain of food of animal origin and control from the primary production to placing the products on the market, except for honey and ice cream. With regard to fresh meat, VS is responsible for the controls at the market as well.

VS also carry out controls on food of animal origin that is imported from third countries. The controls are carried out at the Border Control Posts (BCPs).

VS design annual programmes for the controls, inspections, audits, monitoring and sampling of the products of food of animal origin of the registered and approved establishments that are under their competencies.

The samples collected within the scope of the above-mentioned programmes, are analysed by its accredited laboratories, which are the National Reference Laboratories.

VS have the Animal Health Laboratories (AHL) and the Laboratories for the Control of Food of Animal Origin (LCFAO). All the laboratories are accredited under ISO: 17025 by the Cyprus Organisation of Standardisation (CYS).