8 | STATE GENERAL LABORATORY ABOUT THE SGL GENERAL SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES The State General Laboratory of Cyprus (SGL) is one of the five independent Departments of the Ministry of Health. It is the main official laboratory for the chemical, biological, microbiological, toxicological and radiological control and the official National Control Centre for foodstuffs, water, environment, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, various consumer goods, controlled drugs and other police exhibits. This wide scope of responsibilities is covered under 19 specialised laboratories. All laboratories under the SGL are accredited according to the European Standard EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 in the areas of its competence. It is also the National Reference Laboratory for several food safety sectors. The activities of the SGL, as a non-conflict of interest organisation, governed by the principles of scientific excellence, independence, integrity, accountability and transparency, ensure compliance with the Public Service Law, as well as the fulfillment of citizens’ expectations. Within the framework of supporting and forming national policy, relative to its responsibilities, the SGL staff serves on many National Council Boards (food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plant protection products and biocides, veterinary medicines, chemicals, tenders of the Ministry of Health, chemists registration) as well as the Cyprus National Addictions Authority, the Food Safety Council, and also in National Committees (e.g. research and innovation coordinators, environment and children’s health, school canteens, natural mineral water, environmental impact, veterinary drugs register, reduction of drugs supply & drugs legislation, National Centre for Information on Narcotics, ECOLABEL, UN-Children Rights on Health). Also, at European and international level, the SGL constitutes, among others, the National Representative in the Advisory Forum of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the National Focal Point of EFSA and the National Representative (for Health sector) on “Environment and Health Task Force” of the World Health Organization (WHO)-Europe. Through this active involvement, the SGL contributes to the revision, modernisation and harmonisation of legislation and the formulation of policies / strategies related to its competences, not only at national level, but also at European level. Its constant contribution to the revision of the legislation on food, water and consumer’s products, as well as the legislation on Drugs and Psychotropic Substances for the integration of new synthetic drugs, has been significant.
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