Newsroom
A batch of tomatoes imported from Egypt was misleadingly labeled as Cypriot and placed in local market crates at a distribution point in Nicosia, sparking an investigation by the Department of Agriculture.
Authorities were tipped off by a verbal complaint and conducted an inspection, confirming that while the tomatoes had been legally imported and passed all necessary phytosanitary checks, they were falsely presented as locally grown. The products were found at a wholesale distribution point, meaning they were being sold to other resellers rather than directly to consumers.
The Agriculture Department is now pursuing action under two separate laws—one concerning unfair commercial practices and another regulating quality standards. While legal proceedings are already underway for the misleading labeling, further inspections will determine if additional penalties are warranted under the quality standards legislation.
Authorities have yet to disclose who was responsible for the deceptive labeling or what penalties may follow, but the case highlights concerns over transparency in food labeling and fair competition in the local market.
