The Ministry of Health (MOH) organized yesterday (Sunday) a workshop targeting decision makers at a number of government agencies and ministries, health affairs directorates and MOH's departments to discuss implementation of the updated “International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes” issued as per a resolution of H.E the Health Minister.
This comes as a continuation of MOH’s efforts to activate implementation of the marketing of breast-milk substitutes system and its executive regulations. The workshop also discussed a number of topics including shedding light on the International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent decisions and the updated executive regulations. Likewise, the workshop discussed implementation of the regulations, as well as its final recommendations by the relative parties.
It is noteworthy that H.E the Health Minister has approved the amendment to the executive regulations of the breast-milk substitutes system, which provides that any breast-milk substitute should be in accordance with the adopted international food code and in conformity with the Saudi standard specifications in order to meet the normal food requirement up to the age of 6 months. It is a substitute prepared for children physiological (normal) characteristics, including home-prepared meals.
The system aims to provide safe and appropriate nutrition for infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and ensuring proper use of breast milk substitutes when needed, by means of awareness and appropriate marketing and distribution.
The system also provides that marketing and product practices for breast milk substitutes and supplementary foods including milk products and other beverages given by bottle or other methods should be applied when marketed or otherwise presented as suitable, modified or not modified, to be used as a partial or total replacement for breast milk, as well as bottles and nipples. This also applies to their quality, availability and information of use.