Infants' right to food Assessing where countries stand

1. Infants' right to food Assessing where countries stand Patricia Ip Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

2. Inappropriate promotion of baby foods • Labelled for use from 4 months onwards

3. Mother / Baby Clubs

4. WBTi assessment • Progress since completion in 2008/09 • Public hospitals • April 2010 - Discontinuation of free supplies and no promotion within premises • April 2011 – Labels of BMSs delivered to public hospitals vetted • Claims removed or covered • “Powdered formula is not a sterile product” • “Reconstitute in boiled water cooled to no less than 70 °C” • Private hospitals • July 2011 – 8/10 have discontinued free supplies

5. Electronic breastfeeding self-learning kit for health professionals: • CD - October 2011; • Web – 2012 • Information booklet on formula for healh professionals • Evidence (lack of) for claims • Revised BF education material for mothers / public • The Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Foods and Related Products for Infants & Young Children (0-36 months) 2012

6. Conflict of Interest • Policy making - Drafting of HK Code • Commercial interest in joining Task Force resisted • Commercial lobbying through professional groups, legislative councillors • Continuing Education of Professionals, professional functions, self-promotion of professionals • Prevent and manage conflict of interest • Refrain from accepting sponsorship from industry • Industry’s sponsorship to central fund; • Independent decision of research area, training • Professionals responsible for own continuing education • Declaration of conflict of interest

7. Maternity Benefits • Maternity leave: • 10 weeks 80% pay • Paternity leave: • not by law; in a few private companies • Crèches at workplace • Very few • Breastfeeding breaks • not by law; • Facility to express and store milk in the working place: • voluntary e.g. public hospital staff, health clinics staff