The Federal Food & Drug Authority (FDA) has banned Almeda Textiles Factory from  selling its masks to pharmacies and health centres for not complying with the international standards set for medical masks.

The Authority revoked the certificate of competence it gave to the company on March 25, 2020, stating that the products are not up to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Almeda Textiles has been preparing to make face masks since the first Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) case was reported in Ethiopia on March 13, 2020. It started making 50,000 masks a day on March 15, 2020, and got the certificate of competence for the product from the Authority after eight days. However, two days later, the Authority revoked Almeda's certificate, stating that the company was awarded it by mistake.

The Authority does not give permission or a certificate of competence for garment products, according to Gezahegn Endale, coordinator of branch offices at FDA.

“Anyone can produce masks and distribute them without permission from the Authority," said Gezahegn, "but these masks can’t be used for surgical or medical purposes at health centres unless the Authority gives a certificate of competence.”

Kinfe Haile, director of the Authority's Tigray regional branch, argues that the office gave a certificate of competence to the company considering the quality of its garment products and its production capacity, not for the masks.

The certificate was revoked, since Almeda could not present the documents that verify the standard and quality of the masks, according to Kinfe.

"The company didn't come up with evidence from certified institutions that show the masks prevent viral and bacterial penetration," Kinfe said. "If we find out that the company is selling the masks to hospitals and pharmacies, we'll take the necessary action."

Teklemariam Tesfu, general manager of Almeda Textiles, argues that the company did not ask for a certificate to produce medical masks but instead applied to produce fabric or civilian masks and that it does not sell masks to hospitals and pharmacies.

"We're producing not mainly for business purposes but for social responsibility," he told Fortune.