For Health Care Professionals – distribution of Infant Formula Samples
The distribution of free samples of infant formula is allowed under the Codes for the marketing of infant formula in both Australia and New Zealand. However, manufacturers and marketers of infant formula can only provide infant formula samples to health care professionals and only for the purposes of professional evaluation or research.
To ensure that samples are used properly under the terms of the marketing codes, the Infant Nutrition Council has worked with both the Australian and New Zealand governments to develop a policy for the distribution of infant formula samples to health care professionals. All members of the Infant Nutrition Council adhere to this policy and will only provide samples at the request of health care professionals.
Before receiving the requested samples, health care professionals are required to sign an Infant Formula Sample Request Form stating that it is understood that the samples will only be used in accordance with the definitions of ‘professional evaluation’ or ‘research’. The form also has information about the responsible use of samples including the condition that samples must never be left in public view.
A copy of the Infant Nutrition Council’s policy for the distribution of infant formula samples to health care professionals is available for download as a PDF.
Templates of the samples request form for the MAIF Agreement in Australia and in New Zealand the Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice for the Marketing of Infant Formula are also available.
Template of the samples request form for the MAIF Agreement in Australia
