The Ministry of Health in Laos has adopted new implementation guidelines for the country’s National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes with support from Alive & Thrive and UNICEF.
The detailed guidance supports relevant government agencies, health facilities, health workers, and businesses to eliminate the harmful marketing of formula milk, bottles, and teats. The new guidelines include strict requirements on product registration and labelling as well as the prohibition of inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitutes for children up to 36 months of age. Monitoring checklists are being developed and will be piloted later this year.
The approved guidelines follow the adoption of the Government Decree, “On Food Products and Feeding Equipment for Infants and Toddlers,” in December 2019.