Implementing and Monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand

Key Principles of the Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice

The INC voluntary Code of Marketing Practice applies to the marketing of infant formula products suitable for infants up to the age of six months. Follow-on formula, for infants over six months of age, is excluded from the provisions of the INC Code of Practice.

The companies represented on the Infant Nutrition Council (INC) have agreed that the following key principles will apply for the marketing of infant formula.

1. INC and its member companies encourage and support breastfeeding as the best choice for babies.
2. INC companies should not advertise infant formula products directly to consumers.
3. INC companies should not initiate direct or indirect contact with pregnant mothers or family members to promote infant formula.
4. INC companies should not distribute samples of infant formula to pregnant women, mothers of infants, their families and infant caregivers but may provide samples to the health sector for the purpose of professional evaluation or research.
5. All infant formula education and information material prepared by INC companies and circulated through the health sector should be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the INC Code of Practice.
6. INC companies should not give financial or material incentives to health practitioners for the purpose of promoting infant formula.
7. Infant formula product and usage information published by or under the local control of INC companies through the electronic media, and accessible to consumers as well as health professionals, should also be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the INC Code of Practice.
8. INC companies will inform retailers of the provisions of the INC Code of Practice. Retailer advertisements and the in-store promotion of infant formula products should be limited to product names, price and price savings.

Page last updated: 2 July 2009