Ethiopia is conducting research on allowing duty-free imports of women’s hygiene products to improve availability and reduce costs for domestic consumers, Ahadu Radio reported.

The study is being carried out by the Consortium of Reproductive Health Associations (CORHA), an umbrella organisation coordinating reproductive health initiatives across the country.

Abebe Kebede, CORHA’s chief executive, said the research aims to identify legal and operational frameworks that enable imported products to enter the country while ensuring local distributors can procure them at affordable prices.

Officials noted that recent price increases for hygiene products have created challenges for students and other vulnerable groups, sometimes interrupting access to essential items. The research seeks to create conditions that stabilise supply, prevent excessive price hikes, and ensure equitable distribution.

The initiative examines both regulatory procedures and market mechanisms to facilitate duty-free imports. Researchers expect that, once implemented, hygiene products will be reliably available on the domestic market at reasonable prices, meeting both local demand and the needs of Ethiopian distributors.