ADDIS ABABA –Authority has announced increased efforts to monitor food, health, and related activities to safeguard public health and safety.
During a press briefing yesterday, The Addis Ababa City Food and Drug Authority Director-General Muluemebet Tadesse emphasized her office’s commitment to ensuring that merchants, enterprises, and healthcare institutions provide safe food and medicine to the public.
The Authority recognizes the heightened risk during holidays when food and related products are widely distributed. Therefore, special attention is given to ensuring the safety of food supplies during these periods.
“We regulate health and health-related activities within the city and issue health certificates to facilities that meet hygiene and environmental health standards, thus protecting public health,” stated the Director-General Muluemebet.
In the past six months, the Authority has inspected over 26,000 food suppliers, manufacturers, and healthcare institutions. Action has been taken, including warnings and closures, against those found to be operating illegally or posing a risk to public health.
“When institutions fail to meet health standards or provide unsafe food, or when defects are discovered, corrective action is taken. Failure to implement these corrections may result in further penalties, including closure,” explained the Director-General.
The primary objective of these stringent regulations is to ensure that institutions provide safe, hygienic food and supply standard medicines to the public.
The Authority closely monitors all institutions, including food producers, drug manufacturers, health centers, hospitals, and clinics within the city, with the aim of creating a healthier society and a safe environment for the exchange of food and medicines.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025
