The Cypriot military are concerned the sex toy's electronic waves will disrupt
the army's radio frequencies on the island.
A spokesperson for makers Ann Summers confirmed its Love Bug 2, a small, egg
shaped device operated by a remote control, was on sale for use everywhere in
Europe - except Cyprus.
"The remote control only has a range of six metres. We have still been selling
them in Cyprus, but with a warning urging Cypriots not to use it unless they
travel abroad," said the Ann Summers spokesperson.
In its promotional literature the company describes the device as a
"deceptively powerful matt silver love egg", later adding: "Not for use in
Cyprus".
Military officials refused to comment on the reasons for the ban, but the
government's Communications and Works Ministry said it had been a purely
military decision.
"We never even saw them, they were banned before we even had a chance to check
them, but if issues of national security are at stake then that is not
surprising," a spokesperson said.
"The military does operate on a different frequency to the general frequency,
but they do not share that information for obvious reasons, only they would
have been able to decide what SRD's (Small Range Devices) might be a threat and
what to do about it."
Lizzie Eddleston from the Ann Summers press office in the UK said: "It is a
shame but we have to honour the request and have made it clear that the Love
Bug is not for sale in Cyprus.
"We have been told the electronic waves given off by the 'Love Bug' would
affect military frequencies, but we have told locals that we have a lot of
other devices that are not banned which will satisfy their needs. After all,
it's better to make love, not war." - Ananova.com
