S.L. 449.52 Art. 11Providing consistent information on infant formulae and follow-on formulae.

(1) Objective and consistent information shall be provided on infant and young child feeding for use by families and those involved in the field of infant and young child nutrition covering the planning, provision, design and dissemination of information and their control.

(2) Informational and educational materials, whether written or audiovisual, dealing with the feeding of infants and intended to reach pregnant women and mothers of infants and young children, shall include clear information on all the following points:

(a) the benefits and superiority of breast feeding;

(b) maternal nutrition and the preparation for and maintenance of breast feeding;

(c) the possible negative effect on breast feeding of introducing partial bottle feeding;

(d) the difficulty of reversing the decision not to breast feed;

(e) where needed, the proper use of infant formulae.

When such materials contain information about the use of infant formulae, they shall include the social and financial implications of its use, the health hazards of inappropriate foods or feeding methods, and, in particular, the health hazards of improper use of infant formulae. Such material shall not use any pictures which may idealise the use of infant formulae.

(3) Donations of informational or educational equipment or materials by manufacturers or distributors shall be made only on request and with the written approval of the appropriate national authority or within guidelines given by that authority for this purpose. Such equipment or materials may bear the donating company’s name or logo, but shall not refer to a proprietary brand of infant formulae and shall be distributed only through the health care system.

(4) Donations or low-price sales of supplies of infant formulae to institutions or organisations, whether for use in the institutions or for distribution outside them, shall only be used by or distributed for infants who have to be fed on infant formulae and only for as long as required by such infants.