A concerning picture of public health safety was painted by the Ethiopian Food & Drug Authority (EFDA) amid administrative and economic adversities. A surge in illicit pharmaceuticals and contaminated food was revealed during a half-year report with officials seizing a staggering 114tns of outdated, uncertified, adulterated and unlabelled food items, valued at over 66.5 million Br. This led to the closure of 98 companies, underlining the severity of the issue.

Negash Sime, the head of the Food Inspection Department at the Authority, reveals that contaminated food is flooding the markets, making it challenging to trace and monitor sources. He said adulteration, including the use of crude oil as an edible commodity, poses a significant hurdle and efforts to regulate this, including adjustments for oil refiners to meet fortified standards, have encountered significant obstacles.

Although the Authority stipulated mandatory infusion of Vitamin A and Vitamin D, essential for night vision and bone strength, manufacturers are struggling with finances to comply.

"We can't just close them down," he said.

An assessment of 200 retail shops over six months reveals widespread contamination of food, particularly in products like butter and untraceable items such as salt and palm oil, according to the report. The issue is compounded by factories operating without the required certification (COC) from the Authority, creating a significant tracing gap.

Heran Gerba, director of the Authority, notes that the current legal mechanisms lack the necessary strength to combat illicit activities related to contaminated food. A rising trend in cases occurred as a result, with over 118 cases pending for effective legal measures. She attributes this to a misalignment with the Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration, where licensing and renewing occur without certification.

Ministry officials concur. Teketel Geto, team leader of the Food Safety & Quality Control, acknowledges the issue, admitting that licenses have been issued and renewed without the necessary vigilance.

"There is a gap in that regard," he said.

The situation calls for ensuring transparency and accountability. Hiwot Tadesse, former food inspection director at the Autority, highlights mandate overlap among federal agencies and a lack of synergy as major impediments to effective enforcement. Collaboration between the Authority and the Ministry is deemed critical, according to Hiwot, who emphasised the necessity for both institutions to align their vision for effective regulation.

"It all comes down to these two institutions seeing eye to eye," she said.

Adequate market authorisation and registration aided by technology, such as barcoding alternatives is important to develop the capacity of manufacturers and maintain well-trained experts, according to Hiwot. She critiques the legal proceedings against flawed factories, noting that they are often far from enough.

"Meaningful action is taken only when there is a loss of life," she said.

The Authority tasked with ensuring the safety of food and medicines, faces overlapping mandates and broken supply chains. Over 107 million Br worth of medicines were disposed of for being unauthorised, outdated, substandard, and illegally imported or stocked products. The report reveals that only five pharmaceutical manufacturers are certified for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), emphasising the need for urgent reforms.

Daniel Waktola, the president of the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Suppliers & Manufacturers Sectoral Association, acknowledges the industry's efforts to align with international standards. However, compliance comes with a significant financial burden.