You are here: monitoring
Make a complaint about company marketingHow to report violations Company practices exposedViolations by baby food companies The BFLG is currently producing quarterly monitoring reports, which are submitted to the Trading Standards offices responsible for enforcing the regulations. The report contains profiles of the main formula companies in the UK. You can download the report for May 2008 by clicking here. For a more concise overview, see the Hard Sell Formula pamphlet 2007. This documents the integrated strategies used by the baby food companies to target mothers and health workers to boost sales. Click here to purchase or download. How the monitoring project is fundedThe BFLG monitoring project is coordinated by Baby Milk Action and is funded by donations from the public. You can help to ensure the project continues by making a donation via Baby Milk Action's secure payment systems: |
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Report new violations
Who to complain to
The Baby Feeding Law Group is monitoring baby food company marketing practices in the UK. You can submit information on company materials, advertisements, promotion in shops, promotion in hospitals and visits by company representatives using on-line forms. Click here to go to the forms after reading the information below.
We monitor all company activities which undermine breastfeeding or which provide misleading or inaccurate information on infant and young child feeding. Such practices are most likely violating the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent, relevant Resolutions adopted by the World Health Assembly, which apply in the UK independently of government measures. Some of these practices may also break the narrower UK Law.
As of February 2008 we will be automatically forwarding any reports regarding the practices of formula manufacturers direct to the Trading Standards home authority responsible for the company. This means any complaints regarding labelling or advertising.
You can also register complaints regarding advertising (whether in print or on television or radio) with the Advertising Standards Authority at http://www.asa.org.uk/ Unfortunately it is the ASA's policy to disregard most type of violations reported to it as it applies tests based on its own narrow interpretation of the UK law. However, please do try and let us know what response you receive.
If your complaint is about practices in a retail outlet such as a supermarket or pharmacy or on the website of a retailer or occurred in a health facility you can complain direct to your local Trading Standards Office as well as completing the BFLG form. In England, Scotland and Wales call 08454 04 05 06 or visit Consumer Direct. In Northern Ireland call 0845 600 62 62 or visit Consumerline. You may need to refer specifically to the UK Law, as not all offices are immediately familiar with this. See the 'resources' section.
You may also like to draw the attention of the offending media or shops to the provisions of the Law. Many shops provide customer feedback forms and these can be used if you do not want to speak directly with the shop management.
What is not permitted?
In brief:
Promotion of infant formula in the general media or in shops is against the UK Law. This includes money off promotions, extra reward points or special displays.
Promotion of follow-on formula is permitted by the UK Law, but not the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. It is still worth complaining, citing the International Code as this strengthens our case for bringing the UK Law into line with the Code. For a briefing on the International Code and the subsequent, relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly produced by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) click here.
The World Health Assembly has adopted Resolutions recommending exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age and stating that complementary feeding should be fostered from 'about 6 months'. It is, therefore, inappropriate for complementary foods (weaning foods) and other substances such as teas and juices to be promoted for use before 6 months of age. This is not yet covered by UK Law. You could bring these recommendations to the attention of your local Trading Standards Office and the relevant establishment where they are being broken.