January 15, 2025 (Updated January 29, 2025)
Series of policy debates hosted by the G2H2, 20-24 January 2025, ahead of WHO EB 156
See the Recording of the IBFAN Policy debate
Monday, 20 January 2025 – Garnering civil society and Member States support for a resolution on the regulation of digital marketing of baby feeding products
More about this session:
- Presentation of Lawrence Grummer Strawn as PDF here
- Presentation of Katie Pereira Kotze here
- Presentation of Sonia Venancio as PDF here
- Language: English
- Session organized by IBFAN
- Contact: Patti Rundall
20-24 January 2025 – Ahead of the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board (Geneva, on Feb 3-11th), this series of G2H2 policy debates offers a platform for civil society to remind everyone what are the “matters that matter” to us and why particular attention should be given to them. Spanning from the assessment of “hot” topics to be addressed at the upcoming Executive Board, to a detailed analysis of other burning technical or political matters that have been left out, each session will feature selected speakers which will guide us into an enriching discussion.
This coming 2025 – amidst political turmoil and concerning geopolitical scenarios – prospects to be a challenging year for civil society organizations worldwide. To ensure that health-related human rights are not overlooked neither at the international negotiating tables nor at the local level, civil society must engage in constant and persistent advocacy and use its boldest voice in every forum.
Check the sessions overview on the G2H2 website.
Monday 20 January 2025, 15.00-16.30 CET
Digital marketing is fast becoming the predominant source of exposure to promotion of baby feeding products globally. In 2022, WHO’s report on digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes described its cross border extent and power. It is now totally out of control and parents and carers everywhere are targeted by paid ‘influencers’ and other deceptive schemes with information that undermines WHO and national health recommendations and disempowers parents. The Guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes published in November 2023, followed WHO’s usual strict procedures and a comprehensive review of evidence that was provided to the 75th WHA in 2022. 65 Member States and Civil Society Organisations responded to an open public consultation that took place in September 2023.
IBFAN hoped to have this Resolution adopted in 2024 – the reporting year on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition – but although Laos tabled a draft Resolution in time – political interference and confusion prevented it going forward, despite good support at EB154 . There was renewed support at WHA 77 and we now trying again. Brazil – supported by Armenia, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Sri-Lanka did table a zero draft Resolution Regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes by the 1st November deadline in and several other countries are now co-sponsoring – Slovakia, Norway and Chile.
Alessandra Tisi – G2H2 welcome and housekeeping (3 minutes)
Patti Rundall and Dr Marina Rea (IBFAN): Introduction and why new Resolutions are necessary to address the evolution of marketing over time. (5 – 10 mins)
Laurence Grummer-Strawn, (5-10mins) WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Will speak about WHO’s Guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes
Monitoring: (20 minutes) Constance Ching, Alive & Thrive and Katie Pereira-Kotze (UK Baby Feeding Law Group) Overview of the digital monitoring platforms being established with national governments in partnership with UNICEF (Vietnam, Argentina, Mexico, Laos, and Mongolia), and overview of the national violations.
Kathy Shats UNICEF legal specialist (5-10 min) How UNICEF is helping governments establish effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms as reflected in the guidance.
Member States Panel – three countries that are co-sponsoring the draft Resolution
Sonia Venancio, Coordinator of Child and Adolescent Health Care, Ministry of Health, Brazil.
Dr Ruy Lopez Ridaura, Director, Promotion and Prevention Dept. Ministry of Health, Mexico,
Gry Hay, Special Advisor, Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Norwegian Directorate of Health
Reference
IBFAN’s blog: here
More about this session
- Language: English
- Session organized by IBFAN
- Contact: Patti Rundall
With information from the G2H2 website.
The Documents and Annotated Agenda for the meeting are HERE. Proposed resolutions
Brazil and Mexico, supported by Armenia, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Sri-Lanka tabled a zero draft Resolution Regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes in November. Since then, Chile, Slovakia, Norway, Vanuatu and Lesotho have added their names.
Member States have had three meetings to discuss the Draft (29 Nov, 16 Dec and 9th January). We expect the new draft to be debated at the 156th Executive Board under Item 14. Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. See. Proposed resolutions Members of the Executive Board Chair and Officers of the Board
If approved by the 156th Executive Board (3-11th February 2025) it will go forward to the 78th World Health Assembly (May 19- 27, 2025). (draft agenda)
IBFAN is also supporting a Resolution calling for an extension of the Nutrition targets. For previous Blogs Click HERE and HERE
Why a Resolution is needed.
Digital marketing is fast becoming the predominant source of exposure to promotion of baby feeding products globally. In 2022, WHO’s report on digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes described its cross border extent and power. It is now totally out of control and parents and carers everywhere are targeted by paid ‘influencers’ and other deceptive schemes with information that undermines WHO and national health recommendations and disempowers parents.
The Guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes published in November 2023, followed WHO’s usual strict procedures and a comprehensive review of evidence that was provided to the 75th WHA in 2022. 65 Member States and Civil Society Organisations responded to an open public consultation that took place in September 2023. ii
The Guidance aims to help Member States tackle a problem that was not envisaged when the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes was adopted in 1981, and the issue of Digital Marketing demonstrates the continuing need for biennial reporting to the WHA – the world’s highest health policy setting body. 20 WHA Resolutions and Decisions have been adopted since 1981 that have updated the Code in line with marketing and scientific developments.
Useful links
Talking Points for Advocacy Discussions on Digital Marketing to Protect families from predatory marketing online Global Breastfeeding Collective This very brief document provides essential facts and powerful key messages to aid your discussions. Designed for brevity and clarity, this document can be downloaded, printed, shared with others, and carried with you so you’re prepared when you have the opportunity to discuss this critical issue.
This GBC Advocacy Brief outlines 10 key guidance recommendations from WHO, designed to support Member States in:
- Applying the Code’s provisions effectively in digital environments
- Strengthening monitoring and enforcement, including addressing cross-border marketing challenges
- Applying regulatory measures to restrict digital marketing of products that fall within the scope of the Code, as well as to foods for infants and young children that are not breastmilk substitutes
It also features a four-point Call to Action on digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes, providing actionable steps for government leaders, policy makers, and parliaments.
Member States Meetings
Informal list of intergovernmental meetings (provisional)
Members of the Executive Board Chair and Officers of the Board
WHO/UNICEF/IBFAN Code status report 2024
FIND YOUR NATIONAL LAW on IBFAN’s Website
WHO Basic Documents 49th Edition. Constitution of WHO
Examples of Digital marketing
The VIVID Virtual Violations Detector: https://code.corporateaccountabilitytool.org/ – this tool provides data, on violations detected from various countries globally including Argentina, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore, the UK, the US and Viet Nam: https://code.corporateaccountabilitytool.org/articles/code-violation
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- some analyses publicly available:https://code.corporateaccountabilitytool.org/analysis
- peer reviewed publications that have used the VIVID data:
- Backholer K, Nguyen L, Vu D, Ching C, Baker P, Mathisen R. Violations of Vietnamese laws related to the online marketing of breastmilk substitutes: Detections using a virtual violations detector. Matern Child Nutr. 2025 Jan;21(1):e13680.
- VIVID Findings Brief: Australia. September 2023: https://www.corporateaccountabilitytool.org/vividreport / https://www.corporateaccountabilitytool.org/_files/ugd/cca97c_9bd9891fda9f410d82c183bd6d0665da.pdf
- Save the Children. 2024. Digital Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: How social media and influencer marketing undermine informed choice.https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/digital-marketing-of-breastmilk-substitutes-how-social-media-and-influencer-marketing-undermine-informed-choice/
- Global Breastfeeding Collective. Talking Points for Advocacy Discussions on Digital Marketing https://www.globalbreastfeedingcollective.org/reports/talking-points-advocacy-discussions-digital-marketing
- The IBFAN Brasil webpage https://www.ibfan.org.br/site/
With information from the Baby Milk Action Blog
