Potassium iodide in Cyprus: is there official guidance?

Short answer. Cyprus publishes no official guidance on potassium iodide (KI) tablets: we found no distribution, no zones and no public advice ¹²⁷. Cyprus has no nuclear reactors ⁷. Two 65 mg KI tablets are authorised and listed among medicines that need no prescription ⁵⁶, but no official source says whether pharmacies stock them. In a radiation emergency, follow official instructions ⁷.

Does Cyprus distribute iodine tablets?

No official source we could read mentions a distribution or distribution zones ¹²⁷. The country has no nuclear reactors: "Στην Κύπρο δεν λειτουργούν πυρηνικοί αντιδραστήρες" ⁷. Its radiation emergency plan covers accidents at reactors abroad, ships or aircraft carrying radioactive material, and incidents involving radioactive sources inside Cyprus ⁷.

Who is responsible for radiation emergencies?

The Radiation Inspection and Control Service of the Department of Labour Inspection prepared the national plan for radiological and nuclear emergencies, ELECTRA ¹⁷. During an emergency, the Ministerial Crisis Management Group coordinates the response, and the public must follow the instructions it announces ⁷. The public brochure of the ELECTRA plan does not mention iodine tablets ⁷. We did not read the full plan text.

Can I buy potassium iodide in Cyprus?

Two KI 65 mg tablets are authorised: KALII IODIDUM RAMCOPHARM 65 mg and POTASSIUM IODIDE G.L.PHARMA 65 mg, in packs of 10 ⁵. Both appear in the official price list of February 2026 with the note "Εξαίρεση αναγραφής τιμής στον τιμοκατάλογο (Κανονισμός 4, ΚΔΠ 98/2019)": no price printed ⁵. That rule applies to medicines that need no prescription: their prices are left out of the published list ⁶. So these tablets need no prescription.

Whether pharmacies actually stock them is not confirmed. A 2022 press report said KI tablets were not sold in Cypriot pharmacies, only supplements ³. That report is older than the 2026 list and is not an official source. Ask a pharmacist.

What does Civil Defence advise for a radiation emergency?

The Civil Defence leaflet on chemical, biological or nuclear attack tells people to ²:

• go indoors;
• close windows and ventilation;
• cover the skin;
• follow instructions on radio and TV.

It does not mention iodine ². It also asks you to keep a room at home stocked with dry food and bottled water for at least two days ².

Should I take iodine on my own?

Do not take potassium iodide unless the authorities tell you to. Our general potassium iodide guide explains what the tablets do and what they do not protect against. For background on radiation incidents, see nuclear plant zones, radiation decontamination and sheltering in place.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a prescription for potassium iodide in Cyprus?

No. The two authorised KI 65 mg tablets are listed among medicines that need no prescription ⁵⁶. Whether pharmacies stock them is not confirmed ³.

Does Cyprus have a nuclear power plant?

No. No nuclear reactors operate in Cyprus ⁷.

Does Cyprus hand out iodine tablets?

We found no official distribution scheme and no zones ¹²⁷.

What should I do if a radiation alert is issued?

Go indoors, close windows and ventilation, cover your skin and follow radio and TV instructions ². Watch for CY-Alert messages ⁴. See alerts.

Sources

1. Department of Labour Inspection, Radiation Inspection and Control Service — Republic of Cyprus - Department of Labour Inspection - Radiation Protection (emergency preparedness) — https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/dli/dliup.nsf/All/C87695C08DF0BBB2C2257E2A0024E998 (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας — Μέτρα αυτοπροστασίας από χημική, βιολογική ή πυρηνική επίθεση — https://www.gov.cy/media/sites/156/2025/12/Μέτρα-αυτοπροστασίας-από-χημική-βιολογική-ή-πυρηνική-επίθεση.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Cyprus Mail (press) — Iodine pills that protect against radiation not sold in Cyprus — https://www.cyprus-mail.com/2022/09/26/iodine-pills-that-protect-against-radiation-not-sold-in-cyprus (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Cyprus Civil Defence (CY-Alert) — Frequently Asked Questions - CY-Alert — https://www.gov.cy/cy-alert/en/frequently-asked-questions/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Republic of Cyprus – Official Gazette (Registrar, Pharmaceutical Services), via CyLaw — Κ.Δ.Π. 65/2026 – Κατάλογος Φαρμακευτικών Προϊόντων δυνάμει του άρθρου 88(7) (Επίσημη Εφημερίδα, Αρ. 5995, 2.2.2026) — https://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2026_1_65.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
6. Republic of Cyprus – Minister of Health, Official Gazette, via CyLaw — Κ.Δ.Π. 98/2019 – Γνωστοποίηση για φαρμακευτικά προϊόντα για τη χορήγηση των οποίων δεν απαιτείται ιατρική συνταγή (Επίσημη Εφημερίδα, Αρ. 5148, 22.3.2019) — https://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2019_1_98.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
7. Ministry of Labour – Radiation Inspection and Control Service / Press and Information Office (mirror copy) — Ειδικό Εθνικό Σχέδιο «ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ» για Ετοιμότητα και Απόκριση σε έκτακτα Ραδιολογικά ή Πυρηνικά Περιστατικά (Γ.Τ.Π. 284/2015) — https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.nomoplatform.cy/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/EIDIKO_ETHNIKO_SXEDIO_HLEKTRA.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)