What is the International Code?

The Code refers to an international recommendation drawn up by WHO and UNICEF and adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981 seeks to protect breastfeeding by ensuring the ethical marketing of breastmilk substitutes by industry.

The Code includes these ten important provisions:

1. No advertising of products under the scope of the Code to the public.
2. No free samples to mothers.
3. No promotion of products in health care facilities, including the distribution of free or low-cost supplies.
4. No company representatives to advise mothers.
5. No gifts or personal samples to health workers.
6. No words or pictures idealizing artificial feeding, including pictures of infants on products.
7. Information to health workers should be scientific and factual.
8. All information on artificial feeding, including the labels should explain the benefits of breastfeeding and all costs and hazards associated with artificial feeding.
9. Unsuitable products such as sweetened condensed milk should not be promoted for babies.
10. Products should be of a high quality and take account of the climatic and storage conditions of the country where they are used.