International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes & Resolutions
| Document type: | Official |
| Topic: | International Code |
| Author: | WHO/UNICEF |
| Date published: | January 1981 |
The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, 1981, and subsequent resolutions by the WHO/UNICEF.
The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes 1981 and subsequent WHA resolutions are known as ‘the Code’. The aim of the Code is to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution. In order to do this it has provisions for governments, the health care system and health workers, the general public and mothers, and manufacturers and distributors of products covered by the Code. The Code is the minimum requirement (WHA34.22). Everyone should be aware of the Code and are responsible to ensure that it is not violated.
The text of the international code can be found here (IBFAN) or here (WHO). Subsequent resolutions can be found on the IBFAN website. You can also buy the 'blue book' on the code and subsequent resolutions, as well as other supporting resources from Baby Milk Action.
This resource appears in: Policies, strategies & technical guidance
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