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The Thirty-ninth World Health Assembly,
Recalling resolutions WHA27.43, WHA31.47,
WHA33.32, WHA34.22,
WHA35.26 and WHA37.30
which dealt with infant and young child feeding;
Having considered the progress and
evaluation report by the Director-General on infant and
young child nutrition;(1)
Recognizing that the implementation
of the International Code of Marketing
of Breastmilk Substitutes is an important contribution
to healthy infant and young child feeding in all countries;
Aware that today, five years after
the adoption of the International Code, many Member States
have made substantial efforts to implement it, but that
many products unsuitable for infant feeding are nonetheless
being promoted and used for this purpose; and that sustained
and concerted efforts will therefore continue to be necessary
to achieve full implementation of and compliance with
the International Code as well as the cessation of the
marketing of unsuitable products and the improper promotion
of breastmilk substitutes;
Noting with great satisfaction the
guidelines concerning the main health and socioeconomic
circumstances in which infants have to be fed on breastmilk
substitutes,(2) in the context
of Article 6, paragraph 6,
of the International Code;
Noting further the statement in the
guidelines, paragraph 47: "Since the large majority
of infants born in maternity wards and hospitals are
full term, they require no nourishment other than colostrum
during their first 24-48 hours of life - the amount
of time often spent by a mother and her infant in such
an institutional setting. Only small quantities of breastmilk
substitutes are ordinarily required to meet the needs
of a minority of infants in these facilities, and they
should only be available in ways that do not interfere
with the protection and promotion of breastfeeding for
the majority";
1. ENDORSES the report of the Director-General;(1)
2. URGES Member States:
(1) to implement the Code if they
have not yet done so;
(2) to ensure that the practices
and procedures of their health care systems are consistent
with the principles and aim of the International Code;
(3) to make the fullest use of all
concerned parties - health professional bodies,
nongovernmental organizations, consumer organizations,
manufacturers and distributors - generally, in protecting
and promoting breastfeeding and, specifically, in
implementing the Code and monitoring its implementation
and compliance with its provisions;
(4) to seek the cooperation of manufacturers
and distributors of products within the scope of Article
2 of the Code, in providing all information considered
necessary for monitoring the implementation of the Code;
(5) to provide the Director-General
with complete and detailed information on the implementation
of the Code;
(6) to ensure that the small amounts
of breastmilk substitutes needed for the minority
of infants who require them in maternity wards are
made available through the normal procurement channels
and not through free or subsidized supplies;
3. REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to propose a simplified and
standardized form for use by Member States to facilitate
the monitoring and evaluation by them of their implementation
of the Code and reporting thereon to WHO, as well as
the preparation by WHO of a consolidated report covering
each of the articles of the Code;
(2) to specifically direct the attention
of Member States and other interested parties to the
following:
(a) 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;
(b) the practice being introduced
in some countries of providing infants with specially
formulated milks (so-called "follow-up milks")
is not necessary.
16 May 1986
(1) Document WHA39/1986/REC/1, or Document A39/8
(2) Document
WHA39/1986/REC/1, or Document A39/8 Add.1
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