Federal authorities have granted infant formula importers exemptions from value-added tax (VAT) to offset the rising prices for baby formula on the consumer. Officials hope the exemption improves affordability for families accustomed to bottle-feeding practices.

However, health officials and experts worry such a policy move reveres national efforts to encourage breastfeeding. The use of formula milk is growing in Ethiopia, with close to 40pc mothers opting for the breast milk substitute in urban areas.

The tax exemption is part of a policy the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has been following, responding to soaring food prices through subsidies and tax exemptions. In recent months, similar concessions were granted to importers of essential food items such as edible oil, wheat, sugar, and rice. The year-on-year food inflation index averaged 32.4pc last year. Headline inflation registered at 34pc last month, marking 11 consecutive months above the 30pc mark.

The exemption from VAT began to be enforced last week by the Customs Commission after orders from senior officials of the Ministry of Finance. Legesse Almaw, director of tariff classification, instructed the heads of six branch offices.

Importers were paying VAT and customs duties, calculated after adding up the value of the imported goods, freight costs, insurance fees, and duties. The value added tax is also levied on most goods and services in the economy, barring a few exempted. At 15pc, VAT on goods and services transactions is the principal source of revenues for the federal government, accounting for 25pc of the 439 billion Br expected in domestic revenues for the new fiscal year. The tax bureau collected 43.2 million Br in VAT from baby formula importers two years ago.

The exemption is welcome news to Meron Teshale, 32, who was shopping last week for baby formula at Belonias Supermarket in the Arat Kilo area. She had come to buy S26, a known brand (S26), for her seven-month-old son. She found prices had nearly doubled to 700 Br a litre since she last bought the product at the same shop four months ago.

“This is way beyond my budget,” Meron told Fortune.

Meron left the supermarket with Cerifam – baby food comprising wheat and soya. She bought a container for 80 Br.

The tax exemption applies to imports and goods already in the process of shipment. Importers of baby foods and infant formula are compelled to hold permits from the Food & Drug Authority. Close to two dozen registered companies and seven agents import baby foods and infant formula. They brought in close to 2,500tns of baby formula valued at 6.4 million dollars last year. Over the first 11 months of the concluded fiscal year, the import volume had dropped by 78pc.

Solomon Negusse is the general manager of Medtech Ethiopia, an importer of baby foods incorporated 25 years ago with brothers Muhammed and Ahmed Nuri as major shareholders. The company operates with a capital of 182 million Br. He sees the exemption as the right move to make the products his company imports affordable. However, he observes the primary factor behind the price rise is a shortage in the local market.