The International Code of Marketing on Breast-milk Substitutes

In May 1981, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

Nestlé announced its unilateral implementation of the WHO Code in developing countries in March 1982. It was the first company to implement the Code across its entire operations in developing countries, through the Nestlé Instructions on the implementation of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

In May, an independent audit commission, the Nestlé Infant Formula Audit Commission (or Muskie Commission because it was chaired by former Secretary of State Senator Edmund Muskie) was charged by Nestlé with the responsibility for ensuring compliance by the company’s field offices with code provisions and the company’s own instructions. By October 1982, consultations with the Muskie Commission led to a thorough revision of Nestlé Instructions.

That year, the Methodist Church voted against joining the Boycott and The Washington Post withdrew its editorial support for the Boycott. In January 1983, the American Federation of Teachers withdrew its support for the Boycott. Support for the Boycott waned quickly in the course of 1983. In 1984, following talks between the WHO, UNICEF, Nestlé and Muskie Commission, the activist groups end the boycott.

However, at the end of 1988 two new activist organisations, Action for Corporate Accountability (ACA) in the U.S. and Baby Milk Action (BMA) in the U.K., re-launched the Nestlé Boycott. One issue remained for these activist groups: “infants who have to be fed on breast-milk substitutes” and for whom free supplies were permitted by the Code. The boycott received very limited attention in the U.S. and disappeared in 1990. In the U.K., the boycott continued with the backing of the Church of England.

Latest developments

By 1989, Nestlé had published a “Plan of Action for Infant and Young Child Feeding” where it committed to end all free and low priced supplies of infant formula in developing countries except for the limited number of infants who need it.

In 1994, activists published a report entitled “Breaking the Rules” on alleged violations of the WHO Code by manufacturers. Nestlé investigates and responds to each allegation. In the same year, the Church of England suspends its support to the boycott.

In 1996, Nestlé stopped providing health care facilities with free supply of infant formula in most parts of the world.

In 2001, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution 54.2, which states that exclusive breastfeeding should be recommended for the first 6 months of life. Nestlé has unilaterally taken the decision to market infant cereals in developing countries from 6 months of age.

In 2004, Nestlé refined its internal Nestlé Instructions and developed and implemented a global management system to ensure compliance with the WHO Code across all Nestlé’s operations. This includes Nestlé Policy and Instructions, Nestlé WHO Code Management System, an Internal Ombudsman procedure as well as internal and external audits.

More information can be found on Nestlé Code Management System.