The 71st World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place on 21-26th May and we will once again be joining the IBFAN team in Geneva. Since 1981 (when the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes was adopted) the Assembly has debated infant…
WHO in the claws of the lobbyists – on You tube
WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? L’OMS : dans les griffes des lobbyistes ? This documentary film by Arte was broadcast in 2017 and is now available on Youtube. This is a hard hitting film featuring several IBFAN partners…
Could your health visitor win the Julie Crawford Award 2018?
Could your Health Visitor win the 2018 Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support? Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support 2018 Nominations are now OPEN The Baby Feeding Law Group is seeking nominations for the Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support.…
Conflicts of Interest concerns about three members of WHO’s new High-level Commission on NCDs
In response to the call for comments on WHO’s proposals for an Independent Global High-level Commission on NCDs I sent the comments below, outlining our serious concerns about the appropriateness of three of the proposed Commissioners, who will have an ‘advisory’ role: Arnaud…
Larsson-Rosenquist Family’s vested interest in Medela
https://www.ibfan-icdc.org/conflict-of-interest-the-breastfeeding-friendly-country-index-project/ 28 OCT 2015 CONFLICT OF INTEREST – THE BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY COUNTRY INDEX PROJECT Posted at 10:06h in Code Related by Ibfan-Penang 0Likes We anticipate that in the near future, many (mothers, health workers, and public health advocates, etc.) will…
G2H2 the Geneva Global Health Hub – pre meeting before
WHO governance: The conversation continues Civil society meetings related to WHO EB142, 19-20 January 2018 Baby Milk Action is a member of the Geneva Global Health Hub G2H2 that was launched during a civil society side event at the 69th World…
New paper: Attempts to Redefine Conflicts of Interest in Medicine
Attempts to Redefine Conflict of Interest. Accountability in Research. December 6, 2017. Marc A. Rodwin. DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2017.1405728 English version HERE French version: HERE Abstract: The traditional legal concept of conflict of interest is a practical tool to regulate conduct. In…
French and US Trade delegations put child health at risk
CLICK HERE for PDF in Spanish French and US Trade delegations put child health at risk 39th Codex Alimentarius Nutrition Committee (CCNFSDU), Berlin, Germany 4th – 8th December 2017 The nutrition committee of the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission – the UN body…
French Government calls for global withdrawal of Lactalis formulas
French Government calls for global withdrawal of Lactalis formulas. 14.12.2017 It took almost ten days for the Government of France to react to the scandal of widespread contamination of powdered formula milks produced by the giant French dairy producer Lactalis.…
New Codex comment on Follow-up Formula
IBFAN’s new comment on the revision of the Follow-up Standard (Codex Stan 156-1987) Please share with your country delegates Codex paper IBFAN’s point by point comments on Follow-up Formula CLICK HERE IACFO’s comments are the same as IBFAN’s CLICK HERE…
New DRAFT: IBFAN comments on WHO’s Plan of Work
STOP PRESS: WHO has now published its draft 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13). English Strategy on a page WHO Impact Framework http://www.who.int/about/gpw-thirteen-consultation/en/ “The draft 13th General Programme of Work will be discussed at a Special Session of WHO’s Executive…
International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) and Conflicts of Interest
Look at who the Niti Aayog is consulting October 26, 2017, 6:31 PM IST Rema Nagarajan in Staying Alive | India | Times of India DISCLAIMER : Views expressed below are the author’s own. International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is globally known for…
World Bank must stop promoting “dangerous” public-private partnerships
Click Here: PPP for the Statement, World Bank must stop promoting “dangerous” public-private partnerships Brussels/Washington DC, October 11 2017. A new campaign aimed at reversing the dangerous rush to promote expensive and high-risk public-private partnerships (PPPs) was launched today by civil…
Corporate power on show at the Conservative conference
Baby Milk Action is not aligned to any political party. Here are some of the notable things I spotted at the Conservative Conference in Manchester in October. Sugar and Nuclear power: With hardly any fringe events on health on the agenda, I was still…
New Guidance to protect Infant health in Emergencies.
See statement on the Joint Statement on the care of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the appeal to the Mexican Health Minister The new, updated Operational Guidance for Emergency Relief Staff and Programme Managers , developed by the IFE Core Group…
Mexican Appeal to protect breastfeeding – Nestle sends unsolicited formula
For the new Emergency guidance CLICK HERE Following the terrible events in Mexico, our IBFAN colleagues in Latin America prepared an appeal to the Secretary of Health, Mexico, to protect breastfeeding in this difficult situation. Sept 9. The same day…
Tobacco industry ploy to get its feet under the table?
Whatever happened to the word ‘independent’? Click here for a response from WHO PDF ‘Philip Morris pledges $1bn to stub out tobacco smoking’, Financial Times, Sept 13, 2017. Andrew Jack https://www.ft.com/content/d9acceae-97d5-11e7-a652-cde3f882dd7b Derek Yach – ex WHO, ex Senior Vice…
IBFAN-ICDC Launches its 11th Global Monitoring Report
IBFAN-ICDC LEGAL UPDATE January – September 2o17 CLICK HERE Topics highlighted in this issue: IBFAN-ICDC Launches its 11th Global Monitoring Report Reviewing a “Pioneer-Law” which predates the Code in Papua New Guinea Code at the ASEAN Forum Code for Thailand: One…
Some useful new articles about how business works
How Big Business Got Brazil Hooked on Junk Food As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are aggressively expanding in developing nations, contributing to obesity and health problems. As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are aggressively…
Babies and mothers worldwide failed by lack of investment in breastfeeding
CLICK HERE for UNICEF analysis of Press coverage JOINT PRESS RELEASE 1 August 2017 New analysis shows an investment of US$4.70 per newborn could generate US$300 billion in economic gains by 2025 GENEVA/NEW YORK, 1 August 2017 – No country in the…
Human Milk Banks – watch out for commercial exploitation.
The need for safeguards against commercial exploitation of Human Milk collection is explained in This new article by IBFAN’s Central Coordinator for Asia. India is planning a network of human breast-milk banks but first needs to put safeguards in place Breast-milk collected…
IBFAN tackles corporate influence in global health governance at the 70th World Health Assembly
Web screenings of the proceedings can be viewed on this link CLICK HERE for the statements on the IBFAN GIFA website COMMITTEE B Friday 25th May Afternoon (aprox 3.30) Management, legal and governance matters 23.3 Engagement with non-State actors . International Baby…
World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General
POLITICO: In a first, African claims top job at WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wants to expand health coverage and boost credibility. He has to mend fences first. By CARMEN PAUN AND SARAH WHEATON 5/23/17, 9:28 PM CET Updated 5/24/17, 12:55 PM CET GENEVA…
UN/WHO panel in conflict of interest row over glyphosate cancer risk
UN/WHO panel in conflict of interest row over glyphosate cancer risk https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/17/unwho-panel-in-conflict-of-interest-row-over-glyphosates-cancer-risk Chairman of UN’s joint meeting on pesticide residues co-runs scientific institute which received donation from Monsanto, which uses glyphosate A UN panel that on Tuesday ruled that glyphosate…
Should WHO be accountable to businesses? Responses from DG candidates
Should WHO be accountable to businesses? Responses from two of the Candidates for WHO Director General See the Open letter sent directly to the three candidates published in The Lancet: The election of WHO’s next Director General will take place on Tuesday…
Nestle, Danone, Abbott and Mead Johnson fail to meet RCPCH criteria
On 28th April The Lancet published seven of the many responses to the comment by WHO staff about the new funding policy of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The letters are all worth reading. For example, Declan O Brien says…
Trump & trade; WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? India and Malnutrition
Trump & trade; WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? India and Malnutrition, Amsterdam tackles Obesity Here are links to media coverage of some important stories: a German/French TV Documentary on WHO: its funding and relation to corporations and philanthropists;…
Could your Health Visitor win the Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support?
Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support 2017 Nominations are now OPEN The Baby Feeding Law Group is seeking nominations for the Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support. Nominations must be sent to Baby Milk Action (BFLG Secretariat) by 3rd May 2017…
In praise of conflict. Ted talk by Jonathan Marks
Do watch this great Ted talk outlining when and where conflict is necessary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Ze3NZVtgs
Feeding babies in neonatal units – how an important campaign nearly got derailed.
Here is a letter from Professor Mary Renfrew of Dundee University that explains what happened when an appeal got thrown open to all and sundry. Dear colleagues You may remember the correspondence a few weeks ago about this Open…
Health professional associations and industry funding
LancetRCPCH Following the very worrying announcement by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) of its decision to accept funding from manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes – a decision that went against the vote by RCPCH members at their…
Open letter regarding the Gates Foundation application for official relations
January 26, 2017 (Geneva): A joint statement (signed by 36 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was issued to members of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board (EB) at its semi-annual meeting this week in Geneva. EB members will decide on Tuesday 31st January whether to…
IBFAN at WHO’s 140th Executive Board meeting
140th WHO Executive Board Meeting 23rd January – 1st February 2017 There has been an IBFAN team in Geneva for the WHO Executive Board Meeting. Two days have been spent in closed meetings for the shortlisting of three candidates for the post…
Global standard-setting committee puts child health before trade
PDF version: ibfan-codex-pr-2016-4 Click here for background documents including official report of the meeting and participants list. Global standard-setting committee puts child health before trade 38th Codex Alimentarius Nutrition Committee, Hamburg, Germany 7th December 2016 Codex Alimentarius, the FAO/WHO body that…
REPORT OF THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD TO THE 2016 UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: NUTRITION – MALNUTRITION
With other members of Civil Society, we met the Special Rapporteur in Rome last week at the Committee on Food Security. She also came to our side meeting on Conflicts of Interest. Here is her promised report on Nutrition. REPORT OF…
Conflicts of Interest in Food security and Nutrition Policies: Which way forward for the CFS?
Thursday 20 of October 2016 18.00-19.30 Iraq Room I attended the Committee on Food Security this week in Rome. CLICK HERE for photos of our side meeting attended by 200 people. Conflicts of Interest in Food security and Nutrition Policies:…
Press Release:National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers
CLICK HERE Press Release: National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers September 10, 2016 For Immediate Release September 10, 2016 Contact: Hannah Shultz hshultz@nwica.org 319-541-7357 Denver, CO: This morning, National WIC Association (NWA) Board of Directors Chair, Donna Bister,…
Paediatricians criticise college survey on links with formula milk firms
PDF: bmj.i4555.full Paediatricians criticise college survey on links with formula milk firms BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4555 (Published 17 August 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4555 Paediatricians campaigning for their royal college to sever its links with infant formula milk…
It is World Breastfeeding Week – what you can do to promote it and stop formula companies hijacking it
It is World Breastfeeding Week, promoted by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). In the UK, you can sign a Call to Action to change the conversation around breastfeeding on the UNICEF UK website. Also see the joint statement…
EU parliament slams aid scheme that uses big agribusiness to ‘feed Africa’
STOP PRESS CLICK HERE for yesterday’s vote in the EU Parliament slamming of the New Alliance Aid scheme CLICK HERE for IBFAN’s concerns about the role of business in the Scaling Up Nutrition initiative EU parliament slams aid scheme that uses big agribusiness…
Concerns about the role of businesses in Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN)
STOP PRESS CLICK HERE for yesterday’s vote in the EU Parliament slamming of the New Alliance Aid scheme PDF version: SUN IBFAN June132 2 IBFAN has been criticising the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) initiative for many things, including its lack of attention to conflicts…
Trade vs Health – WHO opens the door to big business while trying to protect babies.
PDF: WHA69 IBFAN PR FINAL.2 CLICK HERE for TV Documentary WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? MIYCN Resolution Guidance on ending the inappropriate marketing of foods for infants and young children WHA 69/7 Add 1 FENSA RESOLUTION PRESS RELEASE Trade…
IBFAN Statements on Obesity, Emergencies and WHO Governance
IBFAN statements at the 140th WHO Executive Board Meeting (23rd January-1st February 2017) Geneva Two days were spent in closed meetings for the selection of the short-list of three for the post of the new Director General of WHO. CLICK…
PRESS RELEASE: US trade lobby ignores global health concerns
Press Release (PDF) PRESS RELEASE: US trade lobby ignores global health concerns 69th World Health Assembly 26th May, 2016 At this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva – three hot topics are on the agenda: baby foods, WHO’s interactions with Business…
Mothers need support not pressure – Baby Milk Action presentation to MPs
Click here to share this information using our new format for social media, smartphones and tablets (also works on computers). Baby Milk Action’s presentation to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Infant Feeding and Inequalities – 17 May 2016…
Launch of joint WHO/UNICEF IBFAN monitoring report
Launch of new WHO/UNICEF/IBFAN Report: Breast-milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code Status Report 2016 Followed by showing of Tigers WHO, UNICEF and IBFAN are hosting an evening of discussion on national implementation of the International Code of…
Media coverage and more on WHO’s FENSA
First a very useful paper setting out IBFANs Concerns regarding the proposed Framework of engagement with NSA This was a Discussion paper for the 68th WHA in 2015. IBFAN_2015_05_FENSA_concerns FINAL Media coverage on WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non State Actors…
Royal College of Paediatrics to debate baby food funding
STOP PRESS: the motion was passed just now. Congratulations to the RCPCH Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to debate baby food funding Annual General Meeting, 27th April, Liverpool Motion for debate: “In order for RCPCH as a professional body…
Inappropriate marketing of baby foods – new consultation round
Inappropriate marketing of baby foods – new consultation round to start soon Following the last meeting of Member States in early April, we understand that some changes have been made to the Guidance and we hope that our remaining concerns will…
Paediatricians call on royal college to drop financial ties to infant formula firms
TEXT OF THE MOTION TO BE VOTED ON 27th April 2016: “In order for RCPCH as a professional body to avoid institutional conflicts of interest and thus maintain its reputation as an unbiased, independent educator and advocate for child health,…