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
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