MILK CODE

Philippines's Supreme Court has acknowledged that: "the best nourishment for an infant is mother's milk. There is
nothing greater than for a mother to nurture her beloved child straight from her bosom..."

HIGHLIGHTED INCIDENT REPORTS

However, exclusive breastfeeding in the Philippines is at only 27% in the latest available National
Nutritional Survey from 2011.
While the Philippines has apparently one of the best regulatory policies that protect breastfeeding, there are
many challenges besetting the Milk Code, such as court battles between the government and multinational
milk companies.
The most recent of these are bills passed in both houses of Congress with amended provisions relaxing the
regulatory policy, and the attempt to lift the ban on milk donations during the Yolanda relief response at the
tail-end of 2013. MANILA, Philippines About 3 in every 10 children, aged 6 months to 5 years old, are
suffering from chronic undernutrition in areas heavily damaged by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), according to
a post-Yolanda nutrition survey. The February to March survey was done by the Nutrition Cluster. It was
led by the government, with members from local and international non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), as well as bilateral organizations responding to Yolanda-hit areas
There were also reported but undocumented incidences of milk donations and blanket distribution of
formula milk during the Yolanda relief response.
The nutrition survey done 3-4 months after the typhoon notes an alarming rate of 42% of infants less than 6
months of age who were given infant formula on the day before the interview.
The rate is higher than the national average of 36% according to the National Nutrition Survey from 2008.
It is also reported that about 46% of infants and young children aged 0 to two years old are bottle-fed,
reflecting an increase from the 39% regional average of 2011.
Child Health Now is also in 5 cities and municipalities piloting a citizen movement that calls on local
governments to fulfill their commitment to child nutrition. Rappler.com

NUTRITION MONTH JULY 1, 2016 CELEBRATION

World Vision, through its, calls on government to prioritize prevention of undernutrition through
effective infant and young child nutrition, particularly for the first 1,000 days.

The first 1,000 days in the life of a child is dubbed the "window of opportunity" because this is when easy
and inexpensive sources of infant and young child nutrition can have the most contribution to a childs
growth and development.

Child Health Now Campaign

is World Visions first global advocacy campaign that aims to contribute to Millennium Development Goal
(MDG) 4 which commits to the decrease in preventable child deaths.
Child Health Now in the Philippines works with the national and local governments and the nutrition
coalition of NGOs for the prevention of chronic undernutrition.
As undernutrition contributes to nearly half of all preventable child deaths, Child Health Now sees good
nutrition as the best start to help children reach their 5th birthday.

The Child Health Now Campaign calls on the Philippine government to:
 Commit and follow through on the Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement to create an enabling political
environment, stronger leadership, and cohesive partnership with nutrition-focused civil society
organizations

Intensify support to breastfeeding by refusing amendments to the Milk Code (Executive Order 51), and
instead, strongly enforce EO 51

Fully engage civil society and communities in the planning, monitoring and quality assurance of health and
nutrition services

Risks of Formula Feeding

In July 2006, the published research study of INFACT CANADA of RISKS OF FORMULA FEEDING results to:

For Infants and Children:

Asthma, allergy, acute respiratory disease, infection from contaminated formula, nutrient deficiencies,
childhood cancers, chronic diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, gastrointestinal infections,
mortality, otitis media and ear infections, side effects of environmental contaminants, altered occlusion, and

Reduced cognitive development

For Mothers

Breast cancer, overweight, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis,
maternal diabetes,

Reduced natural child spacing,

Increased stress and anxiety

What is the Milk Code?

E.O. 51, commonly referred to as, "The Milk Code", is a law that ensures safe and adequate nutrition for infants
through the promotion of breastfeeding and the regulation of promotion, distribution, selling, advertising, product
public relations, and information services artificial milk formulas and other covered products.

The Milk Code or Executive Order 51, signed by then president Corazon Aquino in 1986, is the law that protects
and promotes breastfeeding in the Philippines. It regulates the industry of formula milk and other milk products.

MILK CODE. World Vision continues to be vigilant for any attempts of policymakers to amend and water down the
Milk Code. Photo from World Vision.

The Word Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) rank breastfeeding as topmost
preventive child survival measure to reduce under-5 mortality.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding with adequate complementary feeding
alone were estimated to prevent almost one-fifth of under-5 deaths in developing countries.

Children who are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life are 14 times more likely to survive than non-
breastfed children.
What products does the Milk Code cover?

Breast milk substitutes, including infant formula and milk supplements

Foods, beverages, and other milk products (when marketed or represented to be suitable, with or without
modification, for use as partial or total replacement for breast milk)

Bottle-fed complementary foods

Feeding bottles and teats.

Policies

Exclusive breastfeeding is for infants from 0 to 6 months.

Breast milk has no substitute or replacement.

NOTE: Breastfeeding is best for babies ESPECIALLY during disasters.

In addition to breastfeeding, appropriate and safe complementary feeding of infants should start from 6
months onwards.

Breastfeeding is still appropriate for children up to 2 years of age and beyond.

Infant or milk formula may be harmful to a child's health and may damage a child's formative development.

Other related products such as teats, feeding bottles, and artificial feeding paraphernalia are prohibited in
health facilities.

Rules on donations

Donation of products and materials defined and covered by the Milk Code shall be strictly prohibited.

Other donations which are given in kind or in cash by milk companies, their agents, and their
representatives, must be coursed through the Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) for approval.

Prohibitions/Violations

Advertising, promotion, and other marketing materials that are not approved by the IAC.

Examples:

Pictures of babies and children with their parents, siblings, grandparents, other relatives, or caregivers
(yaya).

The terms "humanized", "maternalized", "close to mother's milk", or similar words in describing breast
milk substitutes or milk supplements.

Pictures or texts idealizing the use of infant and milk formula.

 Opening of cans and boxes in Distribution outlets, including the smallest sari-sari store for the purpose of
retailing covered milk products by the cup, bag or in any other form.

Containers/Labels that are not compliant to Department Circular No. 2008-0006.

NOTE: Marketing materials approved by the IAC reflect the IAC approval numbers in this format: IAC EO51 CA
No. 10-___

Giving of samples and supplies of covered products to any member of the general public, hospitals, health
facilities, personnel within the healthcare system, and members of their families.

Point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples, or any promotion devices to induce sales directly to consumers
at the retail level (ex. special displays, discount coupons, premiums, rebates, special rates, bonus and tie-in
sales, loss-leaders, prizes or gifts).

Gifts, articles or utensils [that may promote the use of breast milk substitutes or bottle feeding] given to
pregnant women, mother of infants, the general public and all mothers.

Direct or indirect promotion of covered products to pregnant women or mothers of infants.

Gifts of any sort with or without company name, logo, or brand name, given by milk companies,
manufacturers, distributors, and representatives of products covered by the Code, to any member of the
general public, hospitals, and other health facilities, including their personnel and members of their
families.

Promotion of infant formula or other products covered by the Milk Code in the healthcare system.

Undermining of breastfeeding (e.g. outright prescribing of infant formula without medical or other
legitimate reasons)

Display of products covered by the Milk Code or placards and posters concerning such products in a
healthcare facility.

Using of "professional service" representatives, "mother craft nurses", or similar personnel provided or paid
for by manufacturer or distributors of products covered by the Milk Code in the healthcare system.

Assistance, logistics, or training, financial or material incentives, or gifts of any sort from milk companies
to health workers.

Information that implies or creates a belief that bottle feeding is equivalent or superior to breastfeeding.

Accepting financial or material incentives or gifts of any sort, from milk companies, by a health worker.

Providing samples of infant formula or other covered products, or of equipment and utensils for their
preparation or use to health workers.

Giving of samples of infant formula to pregnant women and mothers of infants or their family members by
a health worker.
 Health and nutrition claims on labels and in advertisements.

False or misleading information or claims on labels and in advertisements.

Texts, pictures, illustrations, or information that discourage or seemingly undermine the benefits or
superiority of breastfeeding, or that idealize the use of breast milk substitutes and milk supplements.

Milk Code Monitor

Anyone who is committed in protecting and promoting breastfeeding can be a Milk Code monitor.

A Milk Code Monitor

Monitors compliance and problems encountered in the implementation of the Milk Code

Submit reports on the status of the Milk Code implementation to the FDA

Verify reports of Milk Code violations

Monitors the labels and marketing practices of products within the scope of the Code at various distribution
centers

Carry out monitoring activities at any time, or based on specific reports/suggestions from the FDA in their
respective jurisdictions

What sanctions may be imposed on Milk Code violators?

Imprisonment of two months to one year.

A fine of not less than ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) and not more than THIRTY THOUSAND
PESOS (P30,000.00), or

Suspension or revocation of license.

Sources:

Why protect the Milk Code. April 17, 2015. Philippines Milk Code Organization by Monalinda Cadiz
Posted on 03/31/2014 6:44 PM | Updated 04/04/2014 12:50 AM