A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation

Tariku Workineh Daksa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

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A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation

Tariku Workineh Daksa^*

Published in International Journal of Safety Research (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 31 December 2025 Accepted: 13 January 2026 Published: 30 January 2026

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Abstract

This comprehensive review provides an extensive analysis of Ethiopia's food quality management system, examining its historical evolution, current challenges, and future directions. The analysis reveals a system at a critical juncture, characterized by progressive policy frameworks alongside significant implementation gaps. Approximately 80-90% of food transactions occur through informal channels where regulatory oversight is minimal, hygiene practices are often inadequate, and infrastructure is lacking. Foodborne illnesses impose a substantial burden, with estimated economic costs reaching USD $723 million annually from select pathogens alone. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has developed ambitious policy instruments, including the National Food Safety Management Plan (2025-2029) and established the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as a lead regulatory agency. This review synthesizes evidence from over 120 sources across multiple sectors to analyze the complex interplay between governance structures, market dynamics, technological innovations, and socio-cultural factors that shape food safety outcomes. I identify critical leverage points for systemic improvement, including differentiated regulatory approaches for formal and informal sectors, strategic infrastructure investments, behavior-centered interventions, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through a One Health approach. The paper concludes with a detailed implementation framework for transforming Ethiopia's food safety system, emphasizing context-specific solutions, evidence-based interventions, and the need for sustained political commitment and investment to protect public health and support economic development.

Published in	International Journal of Safety Research (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
Page(s)	54-72
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Food Safety, Food Quality Management, Informal Sector, Food Policy, Foodborne Disease, Traditional Markets, Consumer Behavior, Regulatory Systems

References

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APA Style

Daksa, T. W. (2026). A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation. International Journal of Safety Research, 1(1), 54-72. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

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ACS Style

Daksa, T. W. A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation. Int. J. Saf. Res. 2026, 1(1), 54-72. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

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AMA Style

Daksa TW. A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation. Int J Saf Res. 2026;1(1):54-72. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17,
  author = {Tariku Workineh Daksa},
  title = {A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation},
  journal = {International Journal of Safety Research},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {54-72},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsr.20260101.17},
  abstract = {This comprehensive review provides an extensive analysis of Ethiopia's food quality management system, examining its historical evolution, current challenges, and future directions. The analysis reveals a system at a critical juncture, characterized by progressive policy frameworks alongside significant implementation gaps. Approximately 80-90% of food transactions occur through informal channels where regulatory oversight is minimal, hygiene practices are often inadequate, and infrastructure is lacking. Foodborne illnesses impose a substantial burden, with estimated economic costs reaching USD $723 million annually from select pathogens alone. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has developed ambitious policy instruments, including the National Food Safety Management Plan (2025-2029) and established the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as a lead regulatory agency. This review synthesizes evidence from over 120 sources across multiple sectors to analyze the complex interplay between governance structures, market dynamics, technological innovations, and socio-cultural factors that shape food safety outcomes. I identify critical leverage points for systemic improvement, including differentiated regulatory approaches for formal and informal sectors, strategic infrastructure investments, behavior-centered interventions, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through a One Health approach. The paper concludes with a detailed implementation framework for transforming Ethiopia's food safety system, emphasizing context-specific solutions, evidence-based interventions, and the need for sustained political commitment and investment to protect public health and support economic development.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation
AU  - Tariku Workineh Daksa
Y1  - 2026/01/30
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
T2  - International Journal of Safety Research
JF  - International Journal of Safety Research
JO  - International Journal of Safety Research
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
AB  - This comprehensive review provides an extensive analysis of Ethiopia's food quality management system, examining its historical evolution, current challenges, and future directions. The analysis reveals a system at a critical juncture, characterized by progressive policy frameworks alongside significant implementation gaps. Approximately 80-90% of food transactions occur through informal channels where regulatory oversight is minimal, hygiene practices are often inadequate, and infrastructure is lacking. Foodborne illnesses impose a substantial burden, with estimated economic costs reaching USD $723 million annually from select pathogens alone. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has developed ambitious policy instruments, including the National Food Safety Management Plan (2025-2029) and established the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as a lead regulatory agency. This review synthesizes evidence from over 120 sources across multiple sectors to analyze the complex interplay between governance structures, market dynamics, technological innovations, and socio-cultural factors that shape food safety outcomes. I identify critical leverage points for systemic improvement, including differentiated regulatory approaches for formal and informal sectors, strategic infrastructure investments, behavior-centered interventions, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through a One Health approach. The paper concludes with a detailed implementation framework for transforming Ethiopia's food safety system, emphasizing context-specific solutions, evidence-based interventions, and the need for sustained political commitment and investment to protect public health and support economic development.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Tariku Workineh Daksa

Department of Food Technology and Process Engineering, Haramaya University, Maya City, Ethiopia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6384-8274

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Daksa, T. W. (2026). A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation. International Journal of Safety Research, 1(1), 54-72. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

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ACS Style

Daksa, T. W. A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation. Int. J. Saf. Res. 2026, 1(1), 54-72. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

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AMA Style

Daksa TW. A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation. Int J Saf Res. 2026;1(1):54-72. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17,
  author = {Tariku Workineh Daksa},
  title = {A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation},
  journal = {International Journal of Safety Research},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {54-72},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsr.20260101.17},
  abstract = {This comprehensive review provides an extensive analysis of Ethiopia's food quality management system, examining its historical evolution, current challenges, and future directions. The analysis reveals a system at a critical juncture, characterized by progressive policy frameworks alongside significant implementation gaps. Approximately 80-90% of food transactions occur through informal channels where regulatory oversight is minimal, hygiene practices are often inadequate, and infrastructure is lacking. Foodborne illnesses impose a substantial burden, with estimated economic costs reaching USD $723 million annually from select pathogens alone. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has developed ambitious policy instruments, including the National Food Safety Management Plan (2025-2029) and established the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as a lead regulatory agency. This review synthesizes evidence from over 120 sources across multiple sectors to analyze the complex interplay between governance structures, market dynamics, technological innovations, and socio-cultural factors that shape food safety outcomes. I identify critical leverage points for systemic improvement, including differentiated regulatory approaches for formal and informal sectors, strategic infrastructure investments, behavior-centered interventions, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through a One Health approach. The paper concludes with a detailed implementation framework for transforming Ethiopia's food safety system, emphasizing context-specific solutions, evidence-based interventions, and the need for sustained political commitment and investment to protect public health and support economic development.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation
AU  - Tariku Workineh Daksa
Y1  - 2026/01/30
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
T2  - International Journal of Safety Research
JF  - International Journal of Safety Research
JO  - International Journal of Safety Research
SP  - 54
EP  - 72
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsr.20260101.17
AB  - This comprehensive review provides an extensive analysis of Ethiopia's food quality management system, examining its historical evolution, current challenges, and future directions. The analysis reveals a system at a critical juncture, characterized by progressive policy frameworks alongside significant implementation gaps. Approximately 80-90% of food transactions occur through informal channels where regulatory oversight is minimal, hygiene practices are often inadequate, and infrastructure is lacking. Foodborne illnesses impose a substantial burden, with estimated economic costs reaching USD $723 million annually from select pathogens alone. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has developed ambitious policy instruments, including the National Food Safety Management Plan (2025-2029) and established the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as a lead regulatory agency. This review synthesizes evidence from over 120 sources across multiple sectors to analyze the complex interplay between governance structures, market dynamics, technological innovations, and socio-cultural factors that shape food safety outcomes. I identify critical leverage points for systemic improvement, including differentiated regulatory approaches for formal and informal sectors, strategic infrastructure investments, behavior-centered interventions, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through a One Health approach. The paper concludes with a detailed implementation framework for transforming Ethiopia's food safety system, emphasizing context-specific solutions, evidence-based interventions, and the need for sustained political commitment and investment to protect public health and support economic development.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download