Back to statements index

Statement before the 48th Session of the WHO Regional Committee of the Western Pacific, Syndney Australia

Dr. Wooldridge, Dr. Han, Distinguished Delegates, Observers and WHO Staff.

My name is Carol Emerling, I am speaking on behalf of the International Special Dietary Food Industries (ISDI), an NGO in official relations with WHO. Specifically, I am speaking on behalf of the ISDI affiliate group, the International Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM), a trade association of over 20 manufacturers of infant foods who are committed to working with governments in implementing policies which foster good infant nutrition.

IFM remains committed to implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and committed to working with individual countries in implementation of their national measures.

IFM wishes to emphasise the need for government-sponsored monitoring of the Code. Such monitoring must include all parties, including the infant food industry. IFMs commitment is to work with governments to achieve this end. Indeed, page 6 of this Conferences background document for the Infant and Young Child Nutrition agenda item states, Collaboration of all parties concerned is essential. In this connection, we would like to call your attention to the very effective Code monitoring mechanism operating in our host country Australia. Its objective, transparent procedures are credible and could serve as a model for other countries in the region.

We wish to emphasise that experience has demonstrated that monitoring of the WHO Code by self-appointed groups and not conducted under governmental authority has not been productive. Its result has been to fuel confrontation and to make cooperation and collaboration difficult to achieve.

IFM has always recognised the superiority of breast milk for the first 4 to 6 months of life and equally recognises that all infants need safe and nutritious weaning foods after that time. In this connection it should be noted that womens choices and the familys economic circumstances may not always result in prolonged breast feeding.

IFM remains committed to providing foods needed for the nurturing of healthy babies and children. We will continue to work with governments to improve the nutritional status of women and children.

Thank you for allowing me to speak before this distinguished gathering.

(97/641)

Back to statements index