International Code

The Code seeks to encourage and protect breastfeeding by regulating marketing practices used to sell products for artificial feeding.

The Code applies to: artificial milks for babies; other products used to feed babies, especially when they are marketed for use in a feeding bottle or to babies under six months of age. The Code also applies to feeding bottles and teats.

The Code includes these 10 important provisions:

1. No advertising of any of these products to the public.
2. No free samples to mothers.
3. No promotion of products in health care facilities, including the distribution of free or low-cost supplies.
4. No company sales representatives to advise mothers.
5. No gifts or personal samples to health workers.
6. No word or pictures idealising artificial feeding, or pictures of infants on labels of infant milk containers.
7. Information to health workers should be scientific and factual.
8. All information on artificial infant feeding, including that on labels, should explain the benefits of breastfeeding, and the costs and hazards associated with artificial feeding.
9. Unsuitable products, such as sweetened condensed milk, should not be promoted for babies.
10. To avoid conflict of interest, health professionals working in infant and young child health should not receive financial support from infant food companies.

Manufacturers and distributers should comply with the Code’s provisions even if countries have not adopted laws or other measures.