The Forty-ninth World Health Assembly,

Having considered the summary of the report by the Director-General on infant feeding and young child nutrition;

Recalling resolutions WHA33.32, WHA34.22, WHA39.28 and WHA45.34 among others concerning infant and young child nutrition, appropriate feeding practices and other related questions;

Recalling and reaffirming the provisions of resolution WHA47.5 concerning infant and young child nutrition, including the emphasis on fostering appropriate complementary feeding practices;

Concerned that health institutions and ministries may be subject to subtle pressure to accept, inappropriately, financial or other support for professional training in infant and child health;

Noting the increasing interest in monitoring the application of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Health Assembly resolutions;

1. THANKS the Director-General for his report;

2. STRESSES the continued need to implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, subsequent relevant resolutions of the Health Assembly, the Innocenti Declaration, and the World Declaration and Plan of Action for Nutrition;

3. URGES Member States to take the following measures:

(1) to ensure that complementary foods are not marketed for or used in ways that undermine exclusive and sustained breast-feeding;

(2) to ensure that the financial support for professionals working in infant and young child health does not create conflicts of interest, especially with regard to the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative;

(3) to ensure that monitoring the application of the International Code and subsequent relevant resolutions is carried out in a transparent, independent manner, free from commercial influence;

(4) to ensure that the appropriate measures are taken including health information and education in the context of primary health care, to encourage breast-feeding;

(5) to ensure that the practices and procedures of their health care systems are consistent with the principles and aims of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes;

(6) to provide the Director-General with complete and detailed information on the implementation of the Code;

4. REQUESTS the Director-General to disseminate, as soon as possible, to Member States document WHO/NUT/96.4 (currently in preparation) on the guiding principles for feeding infants and young children during emergencies.

25 May 1996