 |
Resolutions of the WHA Relevant to Infant and Young Child
Feeding amending
the
WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
When the International Code was adopted by the World Health
Assembly in 1981 (see
Resolution
WHA34.22) it was recognised that it may require clarification or even
revision. Accordingly Resolutions have been adopted every 2 years since
1982. The subsequent Resolutions have equal status to the International Code
and close many of the loopholes exploited by the baby food industry.
WHA Resolution 39.28 (1986)
 |
Any food or drink given before
complementary feeding is nutritionally required may interfere with
the initiation or maintenance of breastfeeding and therefore should
neither be promoted nor encouraged for use by infants during this period;
|
|
The practice being introduced in some
countries of providing infants with specially formulated milks (so
called follow up milks) is not necessary.
|
WHA Resolution 47.5 (1994)
|
Member States are urged to foster
appropriate complementary feeding from the age of about six months.
|
WHA Resolution 49.15(1996)
|
Member States are urged to ensure that
complementary foods are not marketed for or used in ways that undermine
exclusive and sustained breastfeeding.
|
|
Member States are urged to ensure that
financial support for professionals working in infant and
young child health does not create conflicts of interest
|
WHA Resolution 54.2 (2001)
|
Member States are urged to strengthen
activities and develop new approaches to protect, promote and support
exclusive breastfeeding for six months…and to provide safe and
appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to
two years of age or beyond…
|
WHA Resolution 55.25 ( 2002)
|
Member States adopt and implement
the global strategy; to strengthen existing, or establish
new, structures for implementing the global strategy, to define for
this purpose, national goals and objectives, a realistic timeline for
their achievement, and output indicators; and ensure that marketing
of nutritional supplements does not replace, or undermine support for
the sustainable practice of, exclusive breastfeeding and optimal
complementary feeding;
|
|
that the Codex Alimentarius
Commission continue to give full consideration to improve the
quality standards of processed foods for infants and young children
and to promote their safe and proper use at an appropriate age,
with adequate labeling consistent with the International Code of Marketing
of Breast-Milk Substitutes, Resolution 54.2, and other relevant
resolutions of the WHA.
|
WHA Resolution 58.32 ( 2005)
The final text of the Resolution urges Member States to take action in
four key areas, all in the context of the continued protection, promotion
and support of breastfeeding in the Global Strategy on Infant and Young
Child Feeding (adopted under Resolution 55.25):
|
to ensure that nutrition and health
claims are not permitted for breastmilk substitutes, except where
specifically provided for in national legislation;
|
|
to ensure that financial support and
other incentives for programmes and health professionals do not create
conflicts of interest;
|
| to ensure that research contains declarations of conflicts of
interest and is subject to independent peer review; |
| to alert to intrinsic contamination of powdered infant formula
by Enterobacter sakazakii and other pathogens; |
| The Codex Alimentarius Commission is requested to reflect WHO
policy in its global standard setting, specifically the International Code
and its subsequent, relevant resolutions. |
Compiled by Jennifer Peddlesden, BSc Pharm, IBCLC, RLC
|
