Cyprus Parliament gives the Consumer Protection Service 15 days to enforce laws on free inspection and replacement of defective Takata airbags

On Tuesday, the Cypriot Parliamentary Committee on Trade gave the Consumer Protection Service of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry a 15-day deadline to enforce legislation requiring the free inspection and replacement of defective Takata airbags. Otherwise, MPs are ready to consider possible legislative intervention.

At the Committee meeting, MPs stressed that delays in applying the law and the illegal charging of fees for recall services jeopardize safety standards, distort competition, and violate consumer rights.

DISY MP Nikos Sikas reported that about 35,000 vehicles are subject to recall. He noted that all stakeholders — importers, official representatives, the Ministry, and the Service — must find a solution. “God forbid if a fatal accident occurs, who will take responsibility?” he said, stressing the inadmissibility of avoiding the essence of the problem. According to him, in 15 days concrete proposals or even a draft bill should be presented to finally resolve the issue.

AKEL MP Kostas Kostas reminded that European Regulation 858/2018 explicitly provides consumers with the right to free inspection and replacement of Takata airbags. He accused the Ministry of Transport of delaying the implementation of these rules, which have been in force in the EU since 2018. In addition, since June 26, 2025, the updated national Product Safety Law (Article 12.7) directly requires manufacturers and official representatives to provide free and timely solutions to consumers. However, he noted that two out of fourteen companies still illegally charge not for replacement but for checking cars for defective Takata airbags.

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Kostas noted that instead of protecting citizens, the Consumer Protection Service effectively justifies such charges, claiming that official representatives are considered “distributors.” However, according to EU Regulation 988/2023, the term “economic operator” includes both representatives and distributors. The MP emphasized that consumer protection is a state duty, not an option. He also questioned why only two representatives charge fees while the other twelve do not.

When asked about possible sanctions against companies that continue charging fees, Kostas replied that procedures exist, but if the competent authority considers such actions legal, imposing penalties becomes difficult. Meanwhile, the number of citizen complaints is growing, and companies ignore notices to cease illegal practices.

Ecologist Party President Stavros Papadouris also demanded a clear answer from the Consumer Protection Service on who bears the costs. He warned that if the situation does not change, MPs will introduce a bill fully aligned with EU norms. According to him, the consumer should not pay for the manufacturer’s mistake: costs must be borne by importers, representatives, and distributors.

He also noted that some citizens delay recalling their cars due to the high inspection cost. As a result, people are forced to continue using vehicles with potentially dangerous airbags. Papadouris warned that such practices could spread to other cases — for example, when replacing fuel systems or brakes, creating a dangerous precedent.

In addition, the meeting reviewed a bill aimed at simplifying the permitting process for the installation of energy storage systems for small and medium-sized enterprises operating in renewable energy and data centers. This initiative seeks to fight bureaucracy and support environmental policy.