This excellent series from Helen Keller International's ARCH Nutrition, published in 2017, begins with an overview of the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and the history of its implementation since adoption by the World Health Assembly in 1981. It continues with a discussion of current issues in child nutrition advocacy,  including the role of the new Guidance on Ending the Inappropriate Promotion of Foods for Infants and Young Children in the application and enforcement of the Code. 

The approximate running time of each webinar is one hour.

Also available at ARCH Nutrition.

WEBINAR 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE BMS CODE
The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code): As relevant as ever. Although the Code was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981, there have been a number of subsequent resolutions (including WHA 69.9 of May 2016) that are also an important part of the Code. With a great deal of global focus on the importance of nutrition in the first 1000 days, the Code, in its entirety, is as relevant today as it was all those years ago. This webinar is designed to outline the Code for both beginners and those wanting a refresher as to its content and interpretation and empower you to continue advocacy for the Code in national legislation. Presented by David Clark, legal adviser for UNICEF and Code expert.

WEBINAR 2: WHA 69.9 RESOLUTION AND IMPLICATIONS
The Code now clearly includes follow-up formula and Growing-Up milks: What does this mean?
Over the years, new products have come onto the market aimed for feeding of older infants and young children. These include a range of milk products whose market has grown exponentially. Only last year, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution (WHA 69.9) that now clearly categorises these products as being breastmilk substitutes and requires them to comply with the Code. This critical issue is on the current agenda of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU). This webinar is designed to fill you in on this category of products, why they are now explicitly part of the Code, and what it means for countries and programmes. It will empower you to be able to advocate in country for both national legislation to be expanded and for active Codex engagement towards the December 2017 CCNFSDU meeting. Presented by Jane Badham, consultant to Helen Keller International’s ARCH project.

WEBINAR 3: NEW GUIDANCE ON INAPPROPRIATE PROMOTION OF FOODS
With infant and young child feeding under the global spotlight the World Health Assembly of 2016, as part of WHA 69.9, welcomed guidance from the WHO as to what constitutes the inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children. This includes the growing and diverse complementary food market. This webinar is designed to share with you the new guidance and what it means using practical examples so as to empower you to advise a wide range of stakeholders on this important topic. Presented by Jane Badham, consultant to Helen Keller International’s ARCH project.