International Code for the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes

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The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes ( English International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes ) was founded in 1981 by the World Health Assembly (Engl. World Health Assembly , WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted. The code requires that the marketing of substitutes for breast milk be restricted. This is to ensure that mothers are not discouraged from breastfeeding and that substitute products for breast milk are used without any health risk for the infant .

history

Adoption of the Code

In the 1970s, breastfeeding was found to decrease worldwide. Mother's milk has been replaced by industrially manufactured baby food. Health professionals were concerned about the associated health risks for infants, particularly in third world countries. On the assumption that the decline in breastfeeding was directly related to the marketing practices of the baby food industry, the WHO worked with UNICEF to develop the International Code for the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes . It was adopted by the 34th WHA on May 21, 1981 by 118 WHO member states. Only the US was against it. She had already actively campaigned in advance that the code was only issued in the form of a recommendation.

Subsequent resolutions

The implementation of and compliance with the Code has been criticized by international organizations and non-governmental organizations. As a result, the WHA passed eleven resolutions in 25 years to specify the code. The most important ones were issued in 1994 (restrictions on the free delivery), 1996 (avoidance of conflicts of interest) and 2001 (exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months). These resolutions have the same non-binding legal status as the Code. However, because they are more specific or later adopted, they take precedence over the 1981 Code.

Content of the Code

The code is an instrument of consumer protection and lays down rules for the commercial handling and advertising of industrial baby food, bottles and teats. States are encouraged to fully incorporate their provisions into national legislation.

implementation

National law

The code cannot be enforced with legal instruments. State sanctions for violations of the Code are only provided where it has been enshrined in national law. In 1990 the code was only legally implemented in nine countries. In 2005 there were more than 60 states that had incorporated the code or parts of it into national law.

The EU Commission has, inter alia, Directive 2006/125 / EC on processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children adopted and Directive 2006/141 / EC on infant formulas and follow-on formulas. They obliged the member states to implement various objectives and principles of the code, such as certain labeling requirements, by December 31, 2007. The legal basis for dealing with industrially produced infant formula and follow-on formulas in Germany is governed by the Regulation on dietary foods ( dietary regulation - DiätV) . (Last amended by the 15th ordinance amending the Diet Ordinance (15th Diet Regulation), which was published in Federal Law Gazette I No. 70 of December 20, 2007, p. 3263 ff.)

monitoring

The non-governmental organization “International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)” monitors compliance with the code on a private basis. She reports regularly on the violations in the individual countries. Although published violations have decreased in recent years, they continue to occur.

The theme of the 2010 World Breastfeeding Week is: “Breastfeeding Just 10 Steps! The baby-friendly way ". The World Breastfeeding Week is the largest joint event of all breastfeeding organizations. The motto is published every year by WABA (World Alliance for Breast Feeding Action). (www.waba.org.my) The translation into German is jointly adopted every year by the Round Table for Breastfeeding Promotion in Germany. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in over 120 countries every year. In Europe it always takes place in the 40th calendar week. The World Breastfeeding Week in 2006 was explicitly dedicated to the Code, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Code for the marketing of breast milk substitute products.

Further developments

In several resolutions, the WHO has set further limits on the marketing of breast milk substitutes:

  • WHA 39.28: Maternity wards should not accept free or subsidized deliveries of breast milk substitute products from companies
  • WHA 49.15: The marketing of complementary foods should not undermine exclusive and continuous breastfeeding.
  • WHA 54.2 .: recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (instead of 4–6 months).
  • WHA 58.32: Claims about nutritional and health benefits for breast milk substitutes not allowed.

According to reports from the New York Times , Ecuador proposed to a WHO meeting in Geneva in the summer of 2018 to propose a resolution that would include: a. Calling on governments to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and limit the advertising of products that experts say may have adverse effects on young children. Under US pressure with regard to economic measures and the withdrawal of military support, Ecuador abandoned the project, but this resolution was subsequently introduced by Russia. In the end, it was passed with a few changes. A US government spokesman called the reports false. US President Donald Trump also criticized the New York Times article: The United States is in favor of breastfeeding, but some women need access to breast milk substitutes because of malnutrition and poverty. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said women who do not breastfeed should not be stigmatized, but supported with information and access to alternatives.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf
  2. ↑ Directive 2006/141 / EC of December 22, 2006
  3. ↑ Federal Law Gazette 2007 I p. 3263
  4. ^ Sabine Estendorfer-Rinner: Infant and toddler food . Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety , July 23, 2015
  5. ↑ The International Code for the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. Frequently Asked Questions, 2017 update. (PDF) World Health Organization WHO, 2017, accessed July 8, 2018 .
  6. ^ Andrew Jacobs: US Opposition to Breast-Feeding Resolution Stuns World Health Officials. In: New York Times. July 8, 2018, accessed July 8, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Berit Uhlmann: Fight against breast milk. In: www.sueddeutsche.de. July 9, 2018, accessed July 9, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Trump denies US opposition to WHO breastfeeding resolution. BBC, July 9, 2018, accessed July 9, 2018 .

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