Ethiopia Destroys Tobacco Products Worth Nearly 9.7 mln Birr Ahead of World No Tobacco Day

Mintesinot Niggusie

Ethiopia’s food and drug regulator said it has destroyed 53 kilograms of tobacco leaves and 1.3 million cigarettes with an estimated value of more than 9.7 million birr as authorities intensify anti-tobacco enforcement efforts.

The announcement was made on Friday during a press briefing held jointly by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority and the Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority ahead of World No Tobacco Day celebrations.

Officials said the destroyed products had been intended for smoking use. The event also marked the 34th national observance of World No Tobacco Day in Ethiopia under the theme: “Expose the tactics behind nicotine and tobacco addiction.”

The authority said it has recorded several gains in tobacco control in recent years, including the preparation of an eight-year national tobacco control strategy aimed at strengthening policy implementation and improving coordination across institutions.

Officials also said a protocol aimed at eliminating illicit tobacco trade has been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approval procedures.

Seyoum Wolde, deputy director-general of the medicine sector at the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, said findings from the 2024 Global Adult Tobacco Survey showed a decline in tobacco use prevalence in Ethiopia to 4.6 percent from 5 percent previously.

Muluembet Tadese, head of the Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority, said the city has seen encouraging progress in efforts to reduce tobacco smoke exposure, though challenges remain in strengthening enforcement during both daytime and nighttime operations.