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Statement of the International Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM), member association of the International Special Dietary Food Industries (ISDI), to the 51st World Health Assembly

Madame Chairperson, Member States Delegates,

The International Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM) welcomes the opportunity to speak to the Fifty-first World Health Assembly on infant and young child nutrition.

In January 1998, the WHO Executive Board was informed by the Secretariat of a renewed process to remove obstacles to the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes by all countries. IFM appreciates WHOs efforts to work with all interested parties in this area and we have pledged our support for the process. The members of IFM reiterate their long-standing commitment to improved infant and young child nutrition. We share with WHO the strong belief that breastfeeding is the best way to feed infants, and we have produced literally hundreds of thousands of messages to promote breastfeeding as the best feeding choice.

Still, the International Code, public health professionals and families acknowledge a role for breast-milk substitutes. On a daily basis, IFMs member companies provide millions of mothers with the means to successfully feed their children. This includes breast-milk substitutes for women who, for whatever reason, do not breastfeed, including those who must leave their children in the care of others. We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the best endeavours of our members, there are instances where companies may not be in full compliance with the Code at national level , particularly when we rely on third party distributor organisations, irrespective of intentions at company headquarters. We appreciate the good-faith efforts of NGOs and others to bring to our attention possible violations of the International Code, as implemented by WHO Member States. Where there are violations, our companies are committed to speedily correcting them. You can rest assured of this.

In improving the effectiveness of Code implementation, IFM needs the help of governments and NGOs alike, as well as other interested parties, to create monitoring and compliance procedures which are in agreement with national codes and other national measures, based on clear and unambiguous definitions. It is important that we are informed of alleged infractions in a timely manner so that all manufacturers and consumers alike operating in a given country can apply the Code in the same way.

We trust that the WHO process announced at the Executive Board in January marks a new beginning in a dialogue which will benefit infants and young children.

We would like to assure you that IFM and its members will do everything in their power to make this process successful.

(98/300-May 1998)

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