The Authority issued a press r...

The Authority issued a press release on the preventive measures taken in response to current and national issues.
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August 30, 2017
The Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority announced that it has issued a press release to various media outlets to inform them that the facilities where international and national participants participating in various regional and national events in our country are staying and receiving services are up to standard and to protect the public from illegal activities related to the New Year and Easter holidays.

In a statement, the Director General of the Authority, Mrs. Mulu Imebet Tadesse, stated that an extensive campaign involving various stakeholders has been carried out to ensure that hotels, large bars and restaurants, entertainment venues, guesthouses, and hospitals where international and national participants will stay and receive services are up to standard and that their service delivery is in line with Ethiopian decency, and to ensure that quality and safe food and medicine are accessible to the public for the upcoming major religious and national holidays and to protect the public from illegal activities.

Mrs. Mulu added that the public should ensure the quality and safety of the products purchased during the holidays, and that the business community is also obliged to provide products that are certified for quality and safety. She explained that the public should also provide tips to the authority's toll-free hotline 8864 to jointly prevent illegal food fraud and similar activities.
They also urged hotels, hospitals and food service establishments to provide Ethiopian-style service in accordance with the regulations and expressed their best wishes for a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

The Authority’s Deputy General Manager of Regulatory Sector, Ato Enga Ereketa, for his part, stated that administrative action was taken against 2,045 food and health-related establishments during regular and campaign inspections conducted to protect public health, while 1,676 establishments were given written warnings, 298 establishments were temporarily closed, and 10 establishments had their licenses revoked for operating without a license. He explained that in the 2017 fiscal year, spoiled and expired food and beverage, pharmaceutical and health-related products worth an estimated 200,232,844.83 birr were removed.

Ato Enga added that the Authority will not compromise on public health and will take appropriate action against illegal acts that may harm health, and that service providers must also provide services in accordance with the standards.

Finally, Ato Enga pointed out that the Authority is carrying out many human-oriented activities in addition to protecting the health of the community and fulfilling its social responsibility. He called on institutions to contribute to this good cause, as a free medical service and meal sharing program will be held at the Macedonia Charity Center starting from 4:00 AM on 1/2017.