The WHA resolution on Infant and young child nutrition recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months, then introduce safe and appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for a period of up to 2 years. This global health recommendation replaces the initial recommendation, which was passed as part of the International (WHO) Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in 1981, and reiterated by the WHA in 1994. This recommended exclusive breastfeeding up to a period of 4 to 6 months, with the introduction of complementary foods at about 6 months.

Prior to the WHA, a WHO Expert Consultation published its recommendations on this topic. These are replicated in full on pages 3-6 of this Action Report. The new WHO Resolution takes into account the findings of the WHO Expert Consultation.

In April 2001, immediately following publication of a WHO Expert Consultation recommendations, Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, CEO of Nestlé S.A., stated at the company's Annual General Assembly: "I can publicly assure you that Nestlé is in favour of the new recommendation as it aims at removing the ambiguity on the recommendation which prevailed up to now, and hopefully will end the long-standing debate over the optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding." Nestlé will support the adoption of the resolution's recommendations in all countries.

Nestlé voluntarily applies the International (WHO) Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in all developing countries (more than 150 nations). In these countries we will change labels of complementary foods, including infant cereals and jarred baby foods currently marketed between 4 and 6 months, so that they reflect the findings of the WHO Expert Consultation and the new recommendation of 6 months. In this process Nestlé will request WHO to review changes on labels and we will simultaneously support governments to translate the WHA Resolution into national measures. We also hope to do this together with other infant food manufacturers, who have already shown an interest. After consultation with WHO, our target is to implement the changes of Nestlé labels so they start to appear in the marketplace in 6 months after this consultation.

In developed parts of the world (Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and United States,) Nestlé will support governments' inclusion of this recommendation into national regulations. Nestlé is satisfied with the outcome of the Resolution, as it helps to remove an ambiguity that has been the source of controversy for many years.