Addis Ababa Trade Bureau calls for bottled water price stability; EFDA takes enforcement action

The Addis Ababa Trade Bureau has urged bottled water manufacturers to adhere to a new agreement aimed at stabilizing rising prices in the capital. Bureau head Habiba Siraj held discussions with industry associations to address concerns, while manufacturers cited broker interference in the raw materials market as a key driver for costs. Bottled water prices have surged recently, with a two-liter bottle rising significantly, partly due to reliance on imported PET plastics and foreign currency shortages. Some industry insiders have questioned if the price hikes are fully justified by input costs alone.

Separately, the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) has ordered the suspension of ASSH Packed Water Manufacturing Plc, the producer of "Fine" bottled water. The move follows inspections that revealed slime and biofilm contamination in products. The authority has mandated a recall of batch number 620 within five days and warned that the company faces further legal consequences if it fails to comply with manufacturing safety standards.