ICDC History

The International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC) was “born” in 1991 during a meeting in the Hague, Netherlands to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

That meeting proposed that there should be one worldwide centre to collect and analyse, draft legislation
and other measures to implement the International Code. The centre would also serve as a training and publications unit. The task naturally fell to the Code Documentation Centre, hosted by IBFAN’s regional
office in Malaysia.

In 1996, ICDC became officially registered as a Dutch Foundation.

All project activities by ICDC continue to be hosted by IBFAN Penang, in Malaysia. From 1990 to 2007 ICDC
was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Netherlands. ICDC has always worked closely with IBFAN and with UNICEF.

Objectives

ICDC’s ultimate objective is to improve the health and well-being of babies and young children, their
mothers and their families through the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.

ICDC’s aim is to contribute to better infant health through the protection of breastfeeding by supporting the implementation and compliance of the Code and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions.