Nestlé has begun a new monitoring process with governments around the world to ensure compliance with the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The new initiative is an on-going process of dialogue, the first report from which has recently been presented by Nestlé CEO Peter Brabeck to the Director General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland.

The report, entitled Nestlé Implementation of the WHO Code: Official Response of Governments, contains official statements from 54 governments or government-appointed code monitoring bodies, representing over 50% of Nestlé's infant formula sales in developing countries. All provide evidence that Nestlé complies with the WHO Code as it is implemented in that country. The Report summarises the results of the first 8 months of the process with an initial subset of governments. The process will continue with additional governments engaged in dialogue each year.

The monitoring process is the latest in a series of Nestlé initiatives to implement the WHO Code and to stimulate constructive dialogue amongst all interested parties on infant formula marketing. The new Nestlé process is in response to the who's call for greater company efforts in self-monitoring, and in response to article 11.3 of the who code: "Independently of any other measures for the implementation of this code, manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope of this code should regard themselves as responsible for monitoring their marketing practices according to the aim and principles of this code, and for taking steps to ensure that their conduct at every level conforms to them"

Nestlé is working with governments, as it is governments who are given authority to interpret and monitor the Code in their respective countries, as stipulated in Article 11.1 and 11.2 of the WHO Code itself. Governments are asked to let Nestlé know of any Code violations in their country and ultimately to confirm, in a formal written statement, that Nestlé's marketing practices conform to the Code. The process invites governments to review the Nestlé Instructions to its own staff for the implementation of the WHO Code (which were updated in 1996) to ensure they are in line with national interpretation of the WHO Code. The original Nestlé Instructions (issued in 1982) were reviewed by WHO and UNICEF as well as by national governments.

To date, the process has been completed in 55 countries, with only one expressing a concern about Nestlé's Code implementation. Nestlé is currently working closely with that Government to get to the heart of the problem and ensure compliance. The company is in discussion with various other Governments, whilst still more are being approached. Future updates will summarise additional responses.