The Thirty-seventh World Health Assembly,

Recalling resolutions WHA27.43, WHA31.47, WHA33.32, WHA34.22 and WHA35.26, which dealt with infant and young child feeding;

Recognizing that the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is one of the important actions required in order to promote healthy infant and young child feeding;

Recalling the discussion on infant and young child feeding at the Thirty-sixth World Health Assembly, which concluded that it was premature to revise the International Code at that time;

Having considered the Director-General's report, and noting with interest its contents;

Aware that many products unsuitable for infant feeding are being promoted for this purpose in many parts of the world, and that some infant foods are being promoted for use at too early an age, which can be detrimental to infant and young child health;

1. ENDORSES the Director-General's report;

2. URGES continued action by Member States, WHO, nongovernmental organizations and all other interested parties to put into effect measures to improve infant and young child feeding, with particular emphasis on the use of foods of local origin;

3. REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1) to continue and intensify collaboration with Member States in their efforts to implement and monitor the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as an important measure at the national level;

(2) to support Member States in examining the problem of the promotion and use of foods unsuitable for infant and young child feeding, and ways of promoting the appropriate use of infant foods;

(3) to submit to the Thirty-ninth World Health Assembly a report on the progress in implementing this resolution, together with recommendations for any other measures needed to further improve sound infant and young child feeding practices.

May 1984