Three new WHO resources support WHO’s recommendation (1) that, in order to promote, protect and support breastfeeding, prevent obesity and noncommunicable diseases, promote healthy diets, and ensure that caregivers receive clear and accurate information on feeding, companies that market foods for infants and young children should not “sponsor meetings of health professionals and scientific meetings.” Likewise, health workers, health systems, health professional associations and nongovernmental organizations should not “allow such companies to sponsor meetings of health professionals and scientific meetings”.
The draft sponsorship policy includes rationale, overall commitment, types of sponsorship, and review plan. It states that Associations may add to the policy in terms of scope or covered activities as appropriate. It is important to note that the scope of the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes also covers feeding Bottles and Teats.(1)
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World Health Organization. (2024). Sponsorship of health professional associations by manufacturers and distributors of commercial milk formula: model policy. https://doi.org/10.2471/B09120
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World Health Organization. (2024). Sponsorship of health professional associations by manufacturers and distributors of commercial milk formula: case studies. https://doi.org/10.2471/B09083
Other important tools published recently:
- UNICEF: Countering Industry Arguments Against Code Implementation: Evidence and Rights-Based Responses. Guidance for Advocates of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. https://www.globalbreastfeeding
- WHO: This Tool relates to engagement with the Private Sector in relation to NCDs: WHO 2024. Supporting member states in reaching informed decision-making on engaging with private sector entities for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: a practical tool.
(1) Article 2: Scope of the Code The Code applies to the marketing, and practices related thereto, of the following products: breastmilk substitutes, including infant formula; other milk products, foods and beverages, including bottle-fed complementary foods, when marketed or otherwise represented to be suitable, with or without modification, for use as a partial or total replacement of breastmilk; feeding bottles and teats. It also applies to their quality and availability, and to information concerning their use.