Introduction

What is the International Code?

In 1979, WHO and UNICEF convened a landmark meeting on infant and young child feeding (reference 1) with representatives of governments, agencies of the United Nations system, nongovernmental organizations, the infant-food industry, and experts in related disciplines. Discussions were organized around five themes:

On 21 May 1981, the Thirty-fourth World Health Assembly adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (4) in the form of a recommendation and urged all Member States inter alia to translate it into national legislation, regulations or other suitable measures; to involve all concerned parties in its implementation; and to monitor compliance with it.
 

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes was adopted by a Resolution (WHA34.22) of the World Health Assembly  by which the Health Assembly adopted the Code  stressed that adherence to it "is a minimum requirement and only one of several important actions required in order to protect healthy practices in respect of infant and young child feeding".

The implication is that governments, acting individually, are not only permitted to adopt additional, possibly more stringent, measures than those set out in the Code; they are, in effect, actively encouraged to do so. While the Code is not a legally binding instrument as such, it nevertheless represents an expression of the collective will of the membership of the World Health Organization, which has been formally subscribed to by a large number of its Member States, international and regional bodies, nongovernmental organizations and others.
 

The International Code bans all promotion of bottle feeding and sets out requirements for labelling and information on infant feeding. Any activity which undermines breastfeeding also violates the aim and spirit of the Code. The Code and its subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions are intended as a minimum requirement in all countries.

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.

What is covered?

All breastmilk substitutes. These are products which are marketed in a way which suggests they should replace breastfeeding, even if the product is not suitable for that purpose. They may include:

Key points:

Baby food companies may not:

also,