Infant formulae and follow on formulae
The Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Infant Formulae and Follow On Formulae (485/1997) prescribes the composition, ingredients, labelling, marketing, sale and other disposal of infant formulae and follow on formulae.
Pursuant to this decision infant formulae refer to foods designed for nutrition of nursing babies during the child's first 4-6 months and for satisfying the nutritional needs of children of this age group as the sole source of nutrition. Follow on formulae refer to foods designed for nutrition as the main source of liquids for children of over 4 months of age as their diet gradually becomes more versatile. Special infant formulae refer to foods designed to be used instead of infant formulae and follow on formulae for nursing babies who due to an illness or a similar reason cannot use the formulae designed for healthy nursing babies.
The Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry enforces the EU Commission's Directives 91/321/EEC (EC Official Journal No. L 175) and 96/4/EEC (EC Official Journal No. L 49), in which the principles and objectives of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes ratified by the 34th World Health Assembly in 1981 have been taken into consideration.
Only professional targeted marketing allowed
Pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 16 of the Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (485/1997) the marketing of infant formulae shall be restricted to special publications and scientific publications in child care targeted at professionals. Infant formulae may not be advertised in, for example, ordinary newspapers and magazines or on television. The advertisements targeted at professionals shall comply with the regulations stipulated in the Decision on labelling and they may only contain scientific information based on facts. Brochures and advertisements may not give an impression or create a belief that bottle-feeding would be as good as or better than breast-feeding. No other form of advertising is permitted.
Paragraph 1, Section 17 of the Decision specifically forbids point-of-sale advertising of infant formulae as well as all other sales promotion efforts in retail stores that are targeted directly at consumers. Infant formulae may not be sold at a reduced price, either.
More information
- International Code of marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes of WHO (PDF, in English)