Section 7 of The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992
- (1)1[Every educational or other material including advertisements or material relating to promotion of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods], whether audio or visual, dealing with pre-natal or post-natal care or with the feeding of an infant and intended to reach pregnant women or mothers of infants shall include clear information relating to--
- (a)the benefits and superiority of breast-feeding;
- (b)the preparation for, and the continuance of, breast-feeding;
- (c)the harmful effects on breast-feeding due to the partial adoption of bottle feeding;
- (d)the difficulties in reverting to breast-feeding of infants after a period of feeding by infant milk substitute;
- (e)the financial and social implications in making use of infant milk substitutes and feeding bottles;
- (f)the health hazards of improper use of infant milk substitutes and feeding bottles; 2[(fa) the date of printing and publication of such material and the name of the printer and publisher;]
- (g)such other matters as may be prescribed.
- (2)No material referred to in sub-section (1) shall be utilised to promote the use or sale of infant milk substitutes or 3[feeding bottles or infant foods].
Summary
- Educational materials about feeding infants must clearly state that breast-feeding is superior and explain how to prepare for it.
- These materials must warn about the health risks of improper bottle feeding and the difficulties of returning to breast-feeding once stopped.
- The financial and social costs of using infant milk substitutes and feeding bottles must be included in the information.
- The materials must display the date they were printed and published, along with the names of the printer and publisher.
- Nobody is allowed to use these educational materials to promote the use or sale of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles, or infant foods.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Do educational materials need to mention the cost of formula?
Yes, they must explain the financial and social implications of making use of infant milk substitutes and feeding bottles.
2. Can an advertisement for prenatal care promote baby formula?
No, materials dealing with prenatal care cannot be utilized to promote the use or sale of infant milk substitutes or feeding bottles.
3. Do physical pamphlets need a publication date?
Yes, the date of printing and publication, along with the names of the printer and publisher, must be included on the material.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 7 of The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, what must be included in educational materials for mothers about feeding an infant?
Q2.Under Section 7 of The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, can an educational audio guide for post-natal care be used to sell infant foods?
Q3.Under Section 7 of The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, what publishing detail must be printed on educational materials?
Q4.Under Section 7 of The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, what must educational materials say about reverting to breast-feeding after using formula?
Q5.Under Section 7 of The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, what type of effects must be explained regarding the partial adoption of bottle feeding?