Infants' right to food Assessing where countries stand

Patricia Ip

Hong Kong

Special Administrative Region

Inappropriate promotion of baby foods

• Labelled for use from 4 months onwards

2011.9.15 PIp 2

• Mother / Baby Clubs

2011.9.15 PIp 3

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

2011.9.15 PIp 4

– 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

2011.9.15 PIp 5

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

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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

2011.9.15 PIp 7