Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) has announced the approval of new pharmacy service standards, marking a step forward in the country's drug control framework. This development, endorsed by the Standards Institute, was unveiled during a recent forum reviewing the EFDA's six-month plan implementation progress.
The Ethiopian parliament has ratified the Special Status Agreement (SSA), a document that was signed by Ethiopia and Kenya back in November 2012. It was only on April 8, 2014 that the Ethiopian parliament ratified the agreement while it’s Kenyan counterpart has ratified the agreement earlier this year.
Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseed and Spices Processors-Exporters Association (EPOSPEA) announced that Ethiopia plans to export 230,000 metric tons of sesame. With a view to making the goal a reality, EPOSPEA is engaged in capacity building activities which are targeted at exporters.
In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Ethiopia replaced imports amounting to USD 350 million.
Ethiopia suspended tantalum mining and exports until the country acquires the capability to refine the mineral in a bid to earn more revenues from exports. The decision means that Ethiopia will not export tantalum until the nation has an operating processing plant said Tamrat Modjo, Head of the Traditional Mining Department of the Ministry of Mines.
The government wants to retain enough reserves for when the plant is operational while exploration is underway for more reserves in other parts of the country he said.
It is expected that the processing plant will require an investment of 500 million birr. The government aims to start exporting 1,000 tons a year for the 15 years that the national reserves are expected to last said Tamrat.
