Advertising of breast milk substitutes is prohibited.
In the draft Decree regulating the business and use of nutritional products for young children, the Ministry of Health proposes strictly prohibiting the advertising of breast milk substitutes for children up to 24 months old; and supplementary foods for children up to 6 months old.
The Ministry of Health proposes a strict ban on advertising for dairy products.
Breast milk substitute for children up to 24 months old - Illustration
According to the provisions of the DecreeDecree No. 21/2006/ND-CPCurrently, regulations prohibit advertising of milk for children under 12 months old. In addition, the Ministry proposes a complete ban on advertising of feeding bottles with artificial nipples and pacifiers in any form; and the advertising of images of fetuses or newborns in advertisements for milk intended for pregnant women.
The Ministry of Health also proposed that advertisements for supplementary foods for children aged 6-24 months must meet the following requirements: 1- The beginning of the advertisement must contain the statement: "Breast milk is the best food for the health and comprehensive development of young children"; 2- The advertisement must clearly state "This product is not milk and does not replace breast milk"; in accordance with the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of this Decree and other legal regulations on advertising and food safety.
Do not market breast milk substitutes.
In addition, the Ministry of Health proposes regulations stipulating that the heads of establishments producing or trading nutritional products for young children, or their legal representatives, are prohibited from assigning staff to have direct or indirect contact with mothers, pregnant women, or their family members at healthcare facilities and other locations.
At the same time, it is prohibited to organize the donation of breast milk substitutes to doctors, medical staff, or medical facilities; to offer material benefits or items bearing the name or logo of a company or infant nutrition product; to display breast milk substitutes at medical facilities; or to prominently display the name or logo of breast milk substitutes on banners, posters, and other advertising materials in retail stores and medical facilities.
According to the Ministry of Health, manufacturing and business establishments are prohibited from applying promotional measures for breast milk substitutes such as giving away samples, discount vouchers, prizes, gifts, reward points, discounts, or any other form; using scholarship sponsorships, scientific research sponsorships, funding for training, conferences, seminars, courses, concerts, telephone consulting services, or other forms; and conducting education and communication related to infant feeding.
Breastfeed your baby early, within the first hour after birth.
The Ministry of Health also specifically outlines the responsibilities of pregnant women, mothers, and family members: Breastfeed infants early, within the first hour after birth; exclusively breastfeed for the first six months; and continue breastfeeding until 24 months of age or longer. Children from six months of age onwards need appropriate and proper complementary feeding.
At the same time, parents and family members who need to learn about how to raise young children or are experiencing difficulties in raising young children should immediately go to a medical facility for advice on how to properly and effectively raise children; how to care for and nurture young children, providing the best conditions for their comprehensive development; and learn about the benefits of breastfeeding and the difficulties and limitations of feeding children formula or bottle-feeding.
According to the Ministry of Health, the rate of breastfeeding among infants is currently very low. The rate of infants breastfed within the first hour after birth is 39.7%. The rate of exclusively breastfed infants for the first six months is 17%. While the rate of breastfeeding by the age of one is 73.9%, it drops to only 19.4% by the age of two.
In most localities, the rate of children being exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months remains very low: Dong Thap only reaches 2-3%, Phu Tho about 12%, Hai Phong only 13.4%, Thai Nguyen 10%, etc. The rate of malnourished children and those suffering from diarrhea, respiratory infections, and other infectious diseases is still high.
| The Ministry of Health stated that, according to the World Health Organization, breast milk provides 100% of a child's nutritional needs during the first six months, and 50% of those needs between six and twelve months of age. In the second year, breast milk can still provide 33% of a child's nutritional needs. Furthermore, exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continuing to breastfeed until at least two years of age offers numerous health benefits, helping children avoid illnesses such as malnutrition, pneumonia, and diarrhea. Studies show that breastfeeding is an effective way to prevent allergies in children, increases their resistance to common illnesses and cardiovascular diseases, helps children develop a healthy nervous system, positively impacts brain development, promotes the synchronized development of the oral musculoskeletal system, reduces disruptive behavior in adolescence and adulthood, lowers the risk of diabetes in middle age, reduces the risk of osteoporosis and spinal degeneration in old age, and helps protect the mother's health. |
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According to (Chinhphu.vn) – LT
