Cyprus sees rise in smuggled cosmetic injectables, says drug regulator
The head of the Pharmaceutical Services says unlicensed injectable products for cosmetic use are arriving on the island more often, with checks triggered by tips and complaints.
Imports of injectable cosmetic products that have no licence in the Republic of Cyprus have risen sharply in recent years, according to Elena Panayiotopoulou, director of the Pharmaceutical Services, as reported by the Cyprus News Agency.
She spoke after such products were intercepted in a traveller's bags at Larnaca airport; the person had reportedly used social media to advertise cosmetic procedures on the island and to take bookings.
Checks are not universal: the service acts on information, suspicion or complaints, passing cases to the Customs Department, which searches luggage and confiscates what it finds.
What it means for residents
Anyone booking a cosmetic injection on the island should treat the seller's licence as something to verify, not assume — the regulator cannot screen every salon, gym or clinic, so the burden of caution falls partly on the customer.
- Ask before you book. Patients are entitled to know which product will be injected and whether it is approved for use in Cyprus.
- Complications go further. When a treatment leads to hospital care, the police and the Pharmaceutical Services can both become involved.
- Reporting matters. Inspections are sparked by complaints, so flagging a suspicious provider can prompt a check.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
