INC welcomes recommendations on infant formula marketing

The Infant Nutrition Council (INC) has welcomed the Australian Department of Health’s recommendations on the review of the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula (MAIF) Agreement.

In particular, the INC supported the recommendation that the voluntary, self-regulatory nature of the agreement should remain in operation as long as industry coverage remains high and it continues to promote the MAIF’s aim.

Jan Carey, CEO of INC, says that self-regulation is a strength of the current system. “It is a cost -effective and efficient model in harmony with the other parts of the healthcare system in Australia,” Carey said.

Carey said that the recommendation that the MAIF Advisory Panel (APMAIF) decisions and appointments should be timely, transparent and clearly communicated to the public “is consistent with community expectations”.

The MAIF Agreement is a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. It is Australia’s response to the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes 1981.

The MAIF Agreement has the same aim as the WHO Code: to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes by providing adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution.

Before being admitted as members of the INC, Australian manufacturers and importers of infant formulas must be signatories to the MAIF Agreement. Current signatories include Abbot Australasia, Nestlé Australia, Nutricia, Bayer, Aspen Nutritionals and HJ Heinz Australia.

“As a member of the APMAIF, I look forward to working with the other panel members and the Department of Health to implement the report’s recommendations,” Carey said.