After reviewing current policy, Nestlé Chief Executive Officer, Peter Brabeck Letmathe, has ordered that, even for infant formula products sold in small quantities, all relevant information must be in at least one common local language in all countries. Currently, nearly all of Nestlé formula sold already meets this requirement, but exceptions exist, and this order will cover these exceptions, primarily in very small countries and on small-size tins sold in limited quantities.

While current policy is in line with the WHO Code, Nestlé is taking a step beyond legal necessity to ensure that all formula products sold to the public have at least one common language of the country involved, subject to government approval. (As with all changes to label composition, this will be discussed with the national government for official approval.)

Two examples illustrate the effect of the change in policy. In Malawi, Nestlé had previously printed labels in English, an official and commonly used language of the country. After representations were made to Nestlé to include Chechewa on the labels, this change has been made, and infant formula labels will now be printed in both Chechewa and English. The first labels have already been printed, and the Chechewa labels will begin to appear on grocery and pharmacy shelves in the first months of 2000.

In South Africa, Nestlé prints labels in at least three languages, except for the small 250-gram tins, which had English-only labels. The small tins were printed in English with approval from the South African government, as the tins had a smaller surface area on which to include the relevant information. However, Peter Brabeck has said that there should be 'no such exceptions' even if these exceptions were within the legally approved regulations of the government.

Peter Brabeck explained: "this policy change commits us to putting all key information, such as the 'breastfeeding is best for your baby' statement and the usage instructions, in the primary common language of a country, if the government is in agreement. This means that, for example, all products will be labelled in Urdu in Pakistan. The only element of the label, which might not be in the common language, will be the composition table (composition of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, etc.). In some medical specialty products (sold on doctors' prescription in miniscule quantities for premature babies, etc.), information will be in the local language on an insert under a see-through cap. Otherwise, all products will have the information printed on the label."

Nestlé companies have been instructed to comply by 30 March 2000, or show due cause for an extension, such as allowing time for the government approval process. (Supplies of formula with the old labels will still be found on grocery or pharmacy shelves until product currently in the supply pipeline is purchased). Nestlé is, to our knowledge, the first and only infant formula manufacturer to have taken such a step.