The Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority has increased the tobacco sales ban radius around schools to 500 meters and seized 1.3 million illegal cigarettes. This dual enforcement initiative aims to safeguard youth from addiction by restricting access to tobacco products while aggressively targeting the illicit trade market across the capital.
Under the newly updated directive, the extended perimeter is designed to create healthier environments around educational institutions. Officials stated that reducing the physical availability of tobacco near schools is a preventive strategy to lower smoking initiation rates among students and adolescents.
Simultaneously, a large-scale enforcement crackdown resulted in the confiscation of 1.3 million contraband cigarettes. The authority emphasized that unregulated tobacco products pose enhanced health risks and undermine local economic regulations, prompting intensified market surveillance and border inspections.
Strict penalties have been established to ensure compliance with the expanded zoning law. Individuals or businesses caught selling tobacco products within the prohibited 500-meter school zone will face legal consequences, including up to six months of imprisonment or fines reaching 5,000 Ethiopian Birr.
The Authority’s Director General, Dr. Muluemebet Tadesse, confirmed that the regulation aligns with the city’s broader public health policy objectives. Dr. Tadesse called upon local communities and stakeholders to cooperate with government agencies to foster smoke-free environments and protect public health.