Represented by Douglas Nascimento Santana Brazil, He said he plans to propose a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on digital marketing of breast milk substitutes.
IBFAN PR EB154
press release
WHO 154th Executive Board, WHO Headquarters, Geneva, 22-27 January 2024.
A number of serious emergencies posed by conflict and climate change were on everyone's minds at the WHO Executive Board (EB) meeting at its Geneva headquarters last week. IBFAN's role was to address conflicts of interest and remind us once again of the importance of protecting and supporting women who wish to breastfeed. Women who choose to breastfeed are a lifeline for many babies, providing food, nurturing care, and immune support..
Although the discussion on maternal, infant and young child nutrition did not take place until 10pm on Friday night, 25 EB members still spoke and more than 20 of them participated. lesotho Representing 47 African countries, WHO Guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breast milk substitutes[i] And I promise to do it.Represented by Douglas Nascimento Santana Brazil, He said he plans to propose a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on digital marketing of breast milk substitutes.
“Brazil believes that addressing this issue is crucial to ensure the protection of public health interests. We are calling for the adoption of new measures and stronger regulation of digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes… Let's work together towards a future where every child has the opportunity to grow up in a healthy environment.”
The guidance, published in November 2023, followed WHO's usual rigorous procedures and comprehensive review of evidence provided to 75 institutions.th WHA in 2022. Sixty-five Member States and civil society organizations responded to an open public consultation held in September 2023. [ii]
This guidance aims to help Member States address issues that were not envisaged when the International Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes was adopted in 1981, and the issue of digital marketing is Demonstrates the continued need for biennial reporting to the WHA, a health policy. Setting of the main body. Since 1981, 20 of his WHA resolutions and decisions have been adopted, updating the Code in line with developments in marketing and science.[iii]
While more people are relying on digital tools and artificial intelligence, these technologies are also creating new risks. Digital marketing tools are so powerfully persuasive and so cost-effective that they can be difficult to perceive as promotions. They are now being used by manufacturers of infant nutrition products to pay influencers to target pregnant and breastfeeding women using algorithms and deceptive schemes, and to create expensive, ultra-processed environments that harm children's health. is a major source of exposure to misleading messages that persuade consumers to give away useless products.[iv]
With years of experience working with WHO and UNICEF to strengthen global trade standards, IBFAN believes that the integration of WHA resolutions into Codex standards will help Member States align their laws with WHO recommendations and eliminate unfair trade practices. We have seen how it can help prevent the above challenges.[v] IBFAN urges Member States that, while the recommendations in this guidance do not preclude the legitimate digital marketing of commercial products, health authorities should not It calls for the prevention of harmful marketing of products that sell products.
For more information, please contact us below.
Patti Randall, prundall@babymilkaction.org
Dr. Marina Rea, marifrea@usp.br
Ellie Malpeter, info@INFACTUSA.org
Nia Carrasco, lactared.direccion@gmail.com
Note:
[i] A 2022 WHO report on digital marketing of breast milk substitutes describes its cross-border reach and influence.
[ii] This guidance covers products that fall within the scope of the International Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and the 20 resolutions that strengthen and clarify it (together referred to as the “Code”). The Code was adopted in 1981 and is the first global tool. Designed to control commercial marketing. Its purpose is to: “Providing safe and adequate nutrition to infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and, where necessary, ensuring the appropriate use of breast-milk substitutes, based on appropriate information, and through appropriate marketing and distribution. Contributing to the “distribution” 1.
[iii] To date, 144 WHO Member States (74% of 194 Member States) have adopted legal measures to implement at least some provisions of the International Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. However, under pressure from the industry and its trade associations, too many laws have loopholes that allow misleading marketing to continue. Marketing of breast milk substitutes 2022: National implementation of international norms, status report 2022 WHO UNICEF IBFAN
[iv] All six IBFAN interventions: maternal and child nutrition, emergencies, general work programme, SDGs, climate change, FENSA emphasized the need to support and protect women who wish to breastfeed. It is a restorative practice that provides meals, nurturing care, immune support, and nutrition. It is a lifeline in an emergency. IBFAN calls for advance planning to ensure that emergency appeals do not promote ultra-processed products as a silver bullet or undermine breastfeeding, culturally appropriate and biodiverse foods, in line with IFE operational guidance. Ta.
[v] After 10 years of struggle, Codex finally put children's health above trade. His IBFAN press release after the Codex Nutrition Conference in Germany, March 2023. While governments have the sovereign right to adopt whatever laws they deem necessary to protect children's health, provided they do not violate international trade principles, attempts to prevent governments from introducing strong marketing regulations , weak Codex standards have been used regularly. These threats are highlighted in his 2023 Lancet series on breastfeeding. WTO and Codex interventions related to national implementation of the WHO International Marketing Code for Breast Milk Substitutes. Katherine Russ*
