Hosted by PAN Europe in cooperation with the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII), Cyprus University of Technology.
Where: University of Cyprus, Main Library Amphitheatre, Nicosia, Cyprus (University Map)
When: 19 February 2026 from 08:30 - 13:00 (GMT+2)
Language: English
Programme:
09:00 | Opening Remarks
- Prof. Dr. Konstantinos C. Makris, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology
- Salutation by Dr. Andrea Grigoriou, General Director of the Ministry on behalf of Dr. Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus
09:15 | Panel 1: Addressing the COM Proposal - Backlash in Pesticide regulation?
Chair: Dr. Agapios Agapiou, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus
This urgent panel will examine the European Commission’s 2025 proposal allowing open- ended, potentially unlimited pesticide approvals, which would undermine scientific assessment, endanger human health and environment, and contradict principles of precaution and sustainability.
Dr. Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe
Mr Klaus Berend, Director, Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation, DG SANTE, European Commission
10:00 | Panel 2: Pesticide Contamination, PFAS Pesticides, Children’s Health and Pesticide Exposure
Chair: Dr. Andrie Panayiotou, Associate Professor, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII), Cyprus University of Technology
- Exploratory dust sampling survey for pesticides in Cyprus households (Dr. Konstantinos C. Makris, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology)
- PFAS in pesticide formulations & TFA contamination in products and agricultural areas (Dr. Angeliki Lysimachou, PAN Europe)
- Perceived challenges and recommendations for reduction of pesticide use: A participatory mapping exercise with stakeholders in Cyprus (Dr. Nicos Middleton, Cyprus University of Technology, and Dr. Souzana Achilleos, University of Nicosia and Cyprus Epidemiology and Public Health Association)
11:00 | Coffee Break
11:30 | Panel 3: Reducing Pesticide Dependency
Chair: Dr. Ioannis Paschalidis, Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus
Moving towards sustainable plant protection – the case of Tuta absoluta control (Lyssandros Lyssandrides, Head of Plant Protection, Department of Agriculture, Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment)
Organic farming and organic diet in children and health benefits (Corina Konstantinou, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology)
Balancing productivity and protection: sustainable agriculture and the future of pesticide use, (Dr. Menelaos Stavrinidis, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology)
Case studies from Cyprus on pesticides in foods (Mr. Herodotos Heorodotou, Public Health Services, representing Dr. Elisavet Constantinou, Director of Medical Services & Public Health Services, Cyprus Ministry of Health)
12:30 | Panel 4: Panel discussion on Moving forward towards a sustainable and healthy future of vulnerable populations
Facilitator: Mr. Gergely Simon, PAN Europe
- Presidency – Cyprus Ministry of Health (Mr. H. Herodotou)
- NGOs – PAN (Dr. Angeliki Lysimachou) and Laona Foundation (Artemis Giordamli)
- Organic Farmers Association
- Union of Agriculture Scientists (Mr. George Spyrou)
- Beekeepers President
- Academia (Konstantinos Makris)
13:00 | Closing Session
Read more: Letter from Pesticide Action Network Europe and Cypriot NGOs regarding the Cyprus EU Presidency