Breastfeeding Protection Advances in Pakistan

Pakistan draft legislation to regulate the infant formula and infant food industry made progress as it was passed from the Health Secretary to the Cabinet despite many attempts by industry to hamper progress.

Although this final draft of the Code contains a proposal for inclusion on the National Infant Feeding Board of an industry representative, there is also a note that this proposal is greatly opposed by the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) and others.

Nestlé also lobbied for a resolution to allow the advertisement of commercial weaning foods for children over six months of age. With strong support from UNICEF and a majority vote from members of the PPA against such a resolution, the industry representatives were chided for attempting to delay the passage of legislation and it was recommended that there be no advertising of commercial weaning foods for infants below one year of age.