Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers Approves 4 Draft Bills
The Council of Ministers of Ethiopia has approved four draft bills, including a bill to regulate the management and use of classified government information, a security and information technology products certification and control bill, a draft bill on the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority Staff Management Draft Regulation, and a bill for the establishment of Ethio-Biopharma Group and Shieldvax Enterprise.
Classified Government Information
The first bill, which was approved unanimously, seeks to “prevent the security and sovereignty of the country from being exposed to dangers.” The bill establishes a transparent and accountable operating system for classifying confidential government information and “to ensure that the information is not revealed, lost, altered or transmitted illegally.”
Security and Information Technology Products
The second bill, which was also approved unanimously, seeks to “prevent and control the negative impacts of information technology products entering and leaving the country.” The bill allows citizens to have a sufficient understanding of the negative impacts that information technology products that are not properly controlled can have on the country’s security, and clearly stipulates the rights and obligations of all parties involved.
Ethio-Biopharma Group and Shieldvax Enterprise
The third and fourth bills, which were also approved unanimously, provide for the establishment of Ethio-Biopharma Group and Shieldvax Enterprise. Ethio-Biopharma Group will be able to produce human and animal vaccines, medicines, medical facilities, and equipment, as well as related products in Ethiopia. Shieldvax Enterprise will be able to produce vaccines and related products focused only on human health.
The approval of these four draft bills is a significant step forward for Ethiopia. The new regulations on classified government information will help to protect the country’s security and sovereignty, while the new bills on security and information technology products and on the establishment of Ethio-Biopharma Group and Shieldvax Enterprise will help to boost the country’s economy and improve the health of its citizens.
