EFDA Signs Joint Agreement with National Tobacco Control Committee Members
On June 24, 2025, a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Addis Ababa between the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) and member institutions of the National Tobacco Control Coordinating Committee. The agreement aims to ensure the effective implementation of tobacco control regulations.
During the signing ceremony, Heran Gerba, Director-General of the EFDA, stated that the National Tobacco Control Coordinating Committee comprises government and civil society organizations. Recognizing the severe harm tobacco causes to human health, these members have been called upon to diligently enforce both internationally accepted and domestically enacted tobacco control laws.
The Authority, operating under its legal mandate, coordinates the National Tobacco Control Committee, which is tasked with various regulatory measuresโone of which is preventing tobacco industry interference. Heran explained that the committee has established procedural guidelines concerning the relationship between member institutions and the tobacco industry. These guidelines define permissible interactions, whether in routine operations or collaborative efforts to regulate tobacco and protect public health.
The newly structured National Tobacco Control Committee is expected to address previous coordination gaps, strengthen shared responsibility, and ensure more effective implementation of tobacco control regulations. The Director-General expressed confidence that this restructuring will enhance enforcement efforts.
