International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand

Implementing and Monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand

Te riunga ora mō ngā mokopuna, The safe pathways to children’s wellbeing

New Zealand is a signatory of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, so is committed to working towards meeting its aims.

The Code in New Zealand

The Ministry of Health has taken action to give effect to the International Code’s principles and aim and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions, as appropriate to New Zealand’s social and legislative framework.

The international Code is implemented in New Zealand under four New Zealand codes. http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/6604/$File/breastmilk-substitutes-marketing-code-aug07.pdf

• Code of Practice for Health Workers (Health Workers’ Code)
• Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice for the Marketing of Infant Formula (formerly the New Zealand Infant Formula Marketers’ Association Code of Practice)
• Advertising Standards Authority Code for Advertising of Food (ASA 2006)
• Australian and New Zealand Food Standards Code (Food Standards Code) (FSANZ 2002)

The Health Workers’ Code and Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice are based on the International Code and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions.

The Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice applies to the marketing of infant formula products suitable for infants up to the age of six months. Follow on formula, for infants over six months of age, is excluded form the provisions of the Infant Nutrition Council’s code of practice.

The Food Standards Code draws on the International Code to cover labelling, composition and quality matters.

The Code for Advertising of Food endorses the Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice as the appropriate industry code of ethics.