International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes

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The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (also known as the WHO Code) is an international health policy framework for breastfeeding promotion adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981. [1] The Code was developed as a global public health strategy and recommends restrictions on the marketing of breast milk substitutes, such as infant formula, to ensure that mothers are not discouraged from breastfeeding and that substitutes are used safely if needed. The Code also covers ethical considerations and regulations for the marketing of feeding bottles and teats. A number of subsequent WHA resolutions have further clarified or extended certain provisions of the Code. [2] [3]

Contents

Since 1981, 84 countries have enacted legislation implementing all or many of the provisions of the Code and subsequent relevant WHA resolutions. [4]

Provisions

The Code aims to shield breastfeeding from commercial promotion that affects mothers, health workers and health care systems. The Code and resolutions also contain specific provisions and recommendations relating to labelling of infant formula and other breastmilk substitutes.

i. Mothers
ii. Health workers
iii. Health care systems
iv. Labelling

In line with the recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding in WHA resolution 54.2 [2001], [9] all complementary foods must be labeled as suitable for use by infants from six months and not earlier.

Implementation

The baby food industry has been the subject of pointed criticism from non-governmental organizations, international agencies and campaign groups for failing to abide by the Code. One of the largest food and beverage manufacturers in the world, the Swiss giant Nestlé, has been the subject of an international boycott campaign since 1977 for its milk-substitute marketing practices prior to and since the development of the Code (see Nestlé boycott).

On its own, the International Code is not legally enforceable. Companies are only subject to legal sanctions for failing to abide by the Code where it has been incorporated into the legislature of a nation state. Many countries have fully or partially adopted the Code as law. [4] Other countries have no legislation on baby food marketing at all.

Code violations by baby food manufacturers are still widespread, especially (but not exclusively) in countries that have not implemented the Code as a national measure or where monitoring and enforcement is weak. [10] The WHO, International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), UNICEF, Save the Children and other international organizations perform monitoring of implementation of the Code across the world both independently and with governments. [11] [12] [13]

See also

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Baby food

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Gabrielle Palmer British non-fiction author, nutritionist, lecturer and campaigner

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Establishment of breastfeeding

Establishment of breastfeeding refers to the initiation of providing breast milk of mother to baby. According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), breastfeeding is the best way to provide nourishment, including essential nutrients, energy and antibodies, to infants and toddlers. The start of breastfeeding is supported by the milk production which depends on the development of internal and external breast structure and hormonal control on milk secretion. Besides milk supply, adopting the correct approach of breastfeeding helps build up the maternal bond, which in turn promotes breastfeeding. Not only does nursing strengthen the mother-child relationship, but it also improves the intelligence and immunity of breastfed children and diminishes breastfeeding mothers' risks to have ovarian and breast cancer.

References

  1. ↑ World Health Organization. International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Geneva, 1981.
  2. ↑ World Health Organization. International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: Frequently Asked Questions. Geneva, 2008. Accessed 5 August 2011.
  3. ↑ FTSE. "FTSE4Good Inclusion Criteria for the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes." Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine FTSE4Good Index Series, accessed 5 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 UNICEF. International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Accessed 6 February 2012.
  5. ↑ Baby Milk Action. "World Health Assembly: New UN Resolution tackles intrinsic contamination." Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Baby Milk Action Update, Issue 41, November 2008.
  6. ↑ The Boycott Book. Reinstating the Nestlé Boycott (1988). Accessed 5 August 2011.
  7. 1 2 IBFAN. Understanding the International Code. Archived 2017-07-15 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 5 August 2011.
  8. ↑ World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Guidelines for the safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula. Archived 2010-03-10 at the Wayback Machine Geneva, 2007.
  9. ↑ "WHA Resolution 54.2 - 2001: Infant and young child nutrition". Archived from the original on 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  10. ↑ Aguayo VM, Ross JS, Kanon S, Ouedraogo AN (January 2003). "Monitoring compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in west Africa: multisite cross sectional survey in Togo and Burkina Faso". BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.). 326 (7381): 127. doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7381.127. PMC   140002 . PMID   12531842.
  11. ↑ World Health Organization. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes: A common review and evaluation framework. Geneva, 1996.
  12. ↑ IBFAN. Code Watch. Archived 2011-11-15 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 5 August 2011.
  13. ↑ UNICEF Ukraine. Compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. Kyiv, 2004.
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