Standards
- There should be no display or distribution of any materials produced by the manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes, bottles, teats or dummies in any part of the health-care facility. This includes gifts bearing company logos intended for health professionals (including pens, diary covers, obstetric calculators, notepads, etc) and written materials intended for mothers (including leaflets that do and do not relate to infant feeding).
- There should be no sale of breastmilk substitutes on health-care premises.
- Health-care facilities should not accept free or subsidised supplies of breastmilk substitutes.
NB: It is important to bear in mind that these standards do not restrict the provision of accurate and impartial information about artificial feeding. Parents who have chosen to artificially feed their baby should be given clear written instructions and shown how to make up a bottle safely before they leave hospital. Community staff should ensure that this information has been given and is understood.
In order to ensure that staff receive up-to-date, accurate and unbiased information on artificial feeding, it is recommended that company representatives are not given free access to health-care premises, but rather are asked to meet the designated staff member with responsibility for infant feeding by appointment. The designated staff member can then distribute any new or relevant information to staff in an appropriate manner. This strategy saves staff time.
Assessment
Requirements at Stage 1:
- Proof of purchase for breastmilk substitutes and teats used within the health-care facility.
- Signed statement from the head of service to confirm that there is no promotion of artificial feeding within the health-care facility.
Requirements at Stage 3:
- No evidence of promotion for artificial feeding to be observed in any part of the health-care facility.
Click here to read the full International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
Click here to read 'The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995'.
Click here to read 'The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations (England) 2007'.
