WHEREAS, scientifically proved that using tobacco is a risk factor for disease such as cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke and non-communicable disease as well as resulted to physical injury and death;

WHEREAS, the number of tobacco users in Ethiopia and youth is high that unless the youth protected from exposure and appropriately regulated, high prevalence in tobacco users would inevitability increase even more causing health problems for citizens escalating their medical expense, the country’s expense to import medicine and foreign exchange; it will also decrease productivity and impose heavy burden on the economy by creating other such damages;

WHEREAS, in addition to the direct users, tobacco will hurt people exposed to the smoke that necessitate strengthening enforcement in order to make smoke free public and work places from tobacco smoke;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority issued this directive in accordance with article 71 sub-article (2) of the Food and Medicine Administration Proclamation No.1112/1019.