After years of advocacy by multiple partners, the Government of Burkina Faso signed a revised decree in June on implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS Code). The new decree replaces the country’s 1993 decree on the matter, which was not properly enforced.

In light of growing violations of the Code in various settings, Alive & Thrive advocated to the Ministry of Health and its partners to update the decree for strengthening and enforcing the national measures that give effect to Code. The process took several years and reached a major milestone in March 2021, when a revised decree was adopted by the Ministry of Health. After more technical assistance and advocacy supported by Alive & Thrive, the President, the Prime Minister and relevant ministers signed the decree on June 9, 2022.

“The adoption of this code by the government illustrates its commitment to regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, foods for infants, young children and feeding utensils,” said the Minister of Health, H.E. Robert Kargougou, in press reports in Burkina Faso.  

In West and Central Africa, five of 24 countries have no legal measures in place regarding the Code, and only six countries have legal measures that are “substantially aligned” with the Code, according to the most recent report on the status of the Code, published in 2022.

In July, UNICEF and ECOWAS published, “Regional Model Law for West and Central Africa regulating the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, foods for infants and young children and related feeding utensils,” to support legislators across the region in developing laws to implement the Code. A quick guide to the Code was updated and published in February, too. Learn about the Code's history and the sophisticated marketing tactics the BMS industry uses and explore numerous resources on our Code page.

A recently completed Alive & Thrive study of Code violations in health facilities, implemented using the NetCode protocol, shows that violations are common. The study is expected to be published within the next few months.

Among other things, the study shows that companies promote their products at hospitals and clinics, give free samples to health workers and new mothers, and give mothers coupons for their products – all clearly prohibited by the Code and the national law.

“The promotion of these products clearly undermines the efforts undertaken by the government, UN agencies, and civil society organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding,” said Constance Ching, an expert on the Code and Alive & Thrive consultant. “Studies show that the exploitative practices used by BMS companies undermine women’s confidence in breastfeeding, encourage the use of breastmilk substitutes and entice health workers to be complicit in promoting the products.”

Around the world, close to 700,000 deaths are associated with inadequate breastfeeding every year, and the unethical marketing of breastmilk substitutes is a major contributor. The promotion of BMS products has increased globally for years. In 2000, the industry sold about US$20 billion of products; in 2019, the value had skyrocketed to more than US$70 billion.

Much work remains to be done in Burkina Faso regarding the Code, however. A good law is only as good as a piece of paper if it is not properly enforced. The government needs to next act to improve Code enforcement and monitor violations.

On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week in August, UNICEF launched an infant feeding data dashboard.

"To empower and enable more people to breastfeed, we need to know more about the feeding practices that stand in the way of breastfeeding, and are hindering infant health & survival," the agency said on Twitter.

Access the new dashboard here.

Alive & Thrive launches new activities in Nigeria in June with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Accelerating the scale of Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in Nigeria” will implement interventions to improve MIYCN in six northern states and Lagos State.

Violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is contributing to low rates of exclusive breastfeeding in Cote d’Ivoire. A national initiative to train health workers on the Code, launched with support from Alive & Thrive, seeks to address the problem.

Dear colleagues

Do you want to know more about the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes?

We are excited to invite you to a virtual launch of  2022 WHO UNICEF IBFAN Code Status Report in the WHO African Region. Registration is required, and the link is provided here. Interpretation services will be available for French and Portuguese.

Please share the invitation with all colleagues to support efforts to improve breastfeeding practices in your countries.

We are happy to inform you about the following interesting webinar organised by the "Mothers' Milk Tool" team at the Australian National University and Alive & Thrive South East Asia et FHI Solutions, which will be held in English on 5 May between 8am and 10am GMT.

Money is the language of policymakers. Do you want to quantify the volume of breastmilk, the value of breastfeeding at national and global levels, and how much is lost if country environments and policies, or healthcare, work and community settings do not enable women's and children's rights to breastfeeding? If yes, register here and  save the date for a webinar to launch the "Mothers' Milk Tool" on Thursday 5 May 2022, 6-8 pm Sydney time (AEST),  8am – 10am GMT.

 Breastfeeding and mothers’ milk is presently not counted in food systems or the economy, but should be. The Mothers’ Milk Tool will help. The Tool will be launched when most countries celebrate Mothers' Day to acknowledge mothers' role, health, and economic contribution to society through women's unpaid care work, including breastfeeding.

Join, and spread the word about the launch of this Tool.