International campaign
aims to save Philippines baby milk marketing law
- and infant lives
Press release 9 November 2006.
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Update
4 December, related
media coverage:
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Individuals
and organisations around the world are signing a petition of
solidarity and sending messages of support to politicians and
health advocates in the Philippines as US business interests
try to overturn new baby milk marketing regulations.
The international
campaign was launched by Baby Milk Action at the request
of ARUGAAN, the Philippines partner in the International Baby
Food Action Network (IBFAN), shown right launching its
national petition on 16 October.
IBFAN Europe, representing 58 groups in 35 countries across
Europe has collectively endorsed the petition of
solidarity (click
here for other organisations endorsing the
petition). |
ARUGAAN launches its petition
in support of
protecting infant health
on 16 October 2006 (details).
More
photos of ARUGAAN
campaigns |
|
Baby Milk Action's Policy Director, Patti Rundall
OBE, is in the Philippines to promote the international
campaign (having travelled on from the Codex Alimentarius meeting in Thailand with
Elisabeth Sterken of INFACT Canada).
They are
pictured here on the NBN4 Morning programme on 8
November, one
of many interviews they have given this week.
Today, 9
November, Patti has spoken at a meeting in Congress.
|
Elisabeth
Sterken (l), Director of INFACT Canada (which coordinates the North
American
Nestlé boycott) and Patti Rundall (centre) on
Philippines breakfast television. Click for hi-res version for printing.
Photo credit: Baby Milk Action.
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The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) where signed off by the
Secretary of State for Health in May 2006, the culmination of 25
years of campaigning since the World Health Assembly introduced
marketing requirements in 1981 (click
here for chronology).
However, the
Regulations were soon challenged in court by the Pharmaceutical and
Health Care Association of the Philippines (PHAP) representing three
main US formula companies (Abbott Ross, Mead Johnson and Wyeth),
Gerber (now owned by Swiss NOVARTIS, but possible transferring to
Nestlé - see notes) and other international pharmaceutical
giants.
The court refused
to issue the requested temporary restraining order. However it
reversed this decision 4 days after the President was contacted by
the US Chamber of Commerce. In October IBFAN exposed with a leaked letter that the
President of the US Chamber of Commerce, Mr Thomas Donohue, warned
President Arroyo of “the risk to the reputation of the
Philippines as a stable and viable destination for investment”
if she did not “re-examine this regulatory decision”.
Following
media interest the letter is now widely available - click
here.
Patti Rundall OBE, Baby Milk Action's Policy Director, speaking from
the Philippines said:
"Despite
giving interviews virtually non-stop since Tuesday very little has
ended up in the print media in the Philippines so far. Speaking on
live television and radio we can get our message out, but there is
a real problem of advertisers putting pressure on newspapers. I'm
really shocked that these companies that pretend to us they are
socially responsible have the nerve to go into the Philippines
where artifical feeding is dangerous and challenge the Department
of Health regulations. The claims that the companies are using on
their products are quite outrageous and misleading to parents and
the new regulations are essential. We have helped to protect laws
in the past and we call on people and the media around the world
to act now."
Baby Milk Action
supporters are writing to the companies as well as sending messages
of support. The first to respond is Abbott. Despite being one of the
companies opposing the regulations it is claiming
publicly:
"We also
are dedicated to the highest standards of manufacturing and
marketing - and to complying with all applicable laws and
regulations in the countries where we do business. This
includes following the World Health Organization International
Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as it is legislated
and implemented locally."
The Philippines is amongst the 42 countries accounting for 90% of
under-5 deaths. 82,000 children die each year before their 5th
birthday. Improving breastfeeding rates is the single most
effective action that can be taken to prevent these deaths, with the
potential to save 1.3 million lives every year across the 42
countries (Ref:
Black et al. Where and why are 10 million children dying every
year? Lancet 2003;361:2226-34).
Amongst the 56
countries where National Demographic and Health Survey are available
the Philippines ranks lowest for figures of children ever breastfed
and only 16% are breastfed exclusively at 4-5 months. The World
Health Assembly recommendation is exclusive breastfeeding until 6
months of age, followed by continued breastfeeding to 2 years of age
and beyond.
An article
published in the Philippines
Sunday Times on 5 November 2006 in response to the national
campaign and a conference organised by the Department of Health and
the World Health Organisation, it states:
"The bottom line figure provided
by the WHO is even more staggering: 16,000 Filipino children die
before their fifth birthday from inappropriate feeding practices.
The number, according to Dr. Olivè [Jean Marc Olivè, WHO country
representative], exceeded any humanitarian emergency which the
Philippines has faced in the last 20 years.
The article continues:
"Blame it
on the power of advertising. For years, television, radio and
print commercials have led people to believe that infant formula
can substitute breastmilk, even with the 'breast milk is still
best for babies' disclaimer. They portray images of violin
prodigies and future Einsteins at the threshold of a healthy,
successful and full life. They are beautiful promises, indeed, but
the statistics say otherwise.
"Unfortunately it is not only the general public
that is victimized by the misconceptions on breastfeeding but
health workers as well. Free milk samples and corporate giveaways
look harmless to the naked eye but they weaken the development of
a healthy child."
Nestlé is not involved in the legal challenge, but is lobbying
behind the scenes for changes to the regulations and to weaken
further proposed
legislation below that required by the World Health Assembly
Resolutions on the marketing of baby foods. It has been exposed
giving gifts to health workers and sending staff into
communities.
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Footage of
interviews conducted in the Philippines in 2003 is available
on the German Panorama website (click the image to view
online). |
|
For a flavour of some of the messages being sent to the
Philippines from around the world see the Campaigns
Coordinator's blog entry: 'Don't give in, keep
fighting.'
Notes for editors
-
The International Baby Food
Action Network
(IBFAN) consists of over 200 groups in more than 100 countries.
IBFAN groups work for the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes and subsequent, relevant Resolutions and monitor
company practices against these. Nestlé is found to be the worst
of the companies and so the target of an international
consumer boycott.
-
IBFAN's Breaking the Rules reports profile all companies
involved in the attack on the law. It was reported today (9 November) that Gerber may be
purchased by Nestlé from Novartis.
-
Baby Milk Action is a not-for-profit organisation and the UK
member of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). It is
funded by membership fees, merchandise sales and donations, along
with grants from development organisations and charitable trusts.
-
The boycott of Nestlé focuses on Nescafé, its flagship
product, but Baby Milk Action lists the
brands from which Nestlé profits so boycott supporters can
avoid them all. Guardian reported on 1 September 2005:
"What do Nike, Coca Cola, McDonald's and Nestlé have
in common? Apart from being among the world's most well-known
brands, they happen to be the most boycotted brands on the planet.
That finding came from this week's global GMIPoll,
an online opinion poll that surveyed 15,500 consumers in 17
countries. Nestlé emerges as the most the most boycotted brand in
the UK because of what respondents consider its "unethical use and
promotion of formula feed for babies in third world
countries."
-
Nestlé won a global internet poll for the
world's 'least responsible company' coinciding with the World
Economic Forum in Davos in January 2005. Nestlé received 29% of
the votes. This was more than twice that of joint second Monsanto
and Dow Chemicals (of Bhopal infamy), each on 14% ( click here for details ).
-
For information on baby food marketing
malpractice see the codewatch
and boycott
sections of this website. The Corporate Watch website has a
detailed report on Nestlé.
-
According to the
World Health Organisation, 1.5 million infants
die around the world every year because they are not breastfed.
See the Your
Questions Answered section.
-
Endorsements for the petition of
solidarity have been received from 190 individuals and
organisations from around the world including (update 13
November):
- Australian Lactation Consultants Association
- IBFAN Europe (representing 58 groups in 35 countries,
including Baby Milk Action)
- INFACT
Canada (Coordinator of the North American Nestlé Boycott and
member of IBFAN)
- Rete Italiana Boicottaggio Nestle (Italian Nestlé Boycott
Network)
- The University Of
Sheffield Union Of Students
- KASAPI HELLAS - The Unity Organisation for Filipino Migrant Workers in
Greece
- Philippine Solidarity Group Netherlands
- Citizens'
Movement for the Waters of Minas Gerais, Brazil
- ARUGGAN has been
conducting imaginative campaigns in defence of
the new Regulations. See http://www.unicef.org/philippines/news/060901.html
This begins: "More than a thousand breastfeeding mothers
together with civic organizations unite to protect breastfeeding
through a forum and a colorful public display of a thousand slogan
umbrellas at the Risen Garden, Quezon City Hall. The slogans,
written in English, Filipino and local dialects, embodied the
voice and sentiments of the mothers in light of the Supreme
Court's recent decision to temporarily suspend the implementation
of the Executive Order 51 or the Philippine Milk Code. The code
aims to protect mothers and infants through promoting
breastfeeding and regulating advertisements of breastmilk
substitutes."
Click for large versions. Photo credit: ARUGAAN
(IBFAN Philippines), 2006.
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