Union of India - Act
The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992
UNION OF INDIA
India
India
The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992
Act 41 of 1992
- Published in Gazette 41 on 29 December 1992
- Assented to on 29 December 1992
- Commenced on 29 December 1992
- [This is the version of this document as it was from 31 July 1993 to None.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
13.
/630Statement of Object and Reasons - Every child has a right to be adequately nourished as a means of attaining and maintaining health. Infant malnutrition is a major contributory cause of high incidence of infant mortality and physical and mental handicaps. The health of infants and young children cannot be isolated from the health and nutrition of women. The mother and her infant form a biological unit. Breast-feeding is an integral part of the reproductive process. It is the natural and ideal way of feeding the infant and provides a unique biological and emotional basis for healthy child development. The anti-infective properties of mother's milk protect infants against diseases. The effect of breast-feeding on child spacing, on the health and well being of the mother, on family health and on national economy is well recognised. Breast-feeding is, therefore, a key aspect of self reliance and primary health care. It is, therefore, essential to protect and promote breast feeding and to protect pregnant women and nursing mothers from any influence that could disrupt it.2. Inappropriate feeding practices lead to infant malnutrition, morbidity and mortality in our children. Promotion of infant milk substitutes and related products like feeding bottles and teats do constitute a health hazard. Promotion of infant milk substitutes and related products has been more extensive and pervasive than the dissemination of information concerning the advantages of mother's milk and breast feeding and contributes to decline in breast-feeding. In the absence of strong interventions designed to protect, promole and support breast-feeding this decline can assume dangerous proportions subjecting millions of infants to greater risks of infections.malnutrition and death.3. In the light of the foregoing considerations and in view of the vulnerability of infants in the early months of life to the aforesaid risks and the risks involved in inappropriate feeding practices including the unnecessary and improper use of infant milk substitutes, feeding accessories and infant foods, it has become necessary to regulate the marketing of such products. For the proper nutrition and health of the world's children, the World Health Assembly adopted in May, 1981 on International Code for Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. The Government of India recognised this Code and adopted the "Indian National Code for Protection and Promotion of Breast-Feeding" (hereinafter referred to as the Code) in December, 1983.4. The Codeen visages that there shall be no advertising or other form of sales promotion of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and teats. The Code, in accordance with this general principle enjoins the health authorities to encourage and protect breast-feeding and also prescribes several measures to control the marketing and promotion of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles, teats and infant foods.5. The Bill proposes to give effect to the principles and aims of the Code. Accordingly, it prohibits advertisements of infant milk substitutes and feeding bottles and also prescribes measures to ensure that in marketing of infant milk substitutes no impression is given that feeding of these products is equivalent to, or better than, breast-feeding. The provisions relating to labelling and quality control of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods are proposed to be implemented through the concerned Departments in the State Government and Union territory administrations under the overall control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Contravention of the provisions of the Bill will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both. However, the contravention of certain provisions of the Bill relating to labelling or quality control of such substitutes or foods will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees.6.The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects. -Gazette of India., 8-5-1992, Pt. II, Section. 2, Ext., p.10 (No. 34). -Amendment Act 38 of 2003-Statement of Objects and Reasons-The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992 was enacted with a view to protecting and promoting breast-feeding and ensuring proper use of infant foods. During the course of implementation of the provisions of the enactment over the years, it has been found that some aspects have led to difficulties, which need to be clearly spelt out. The recent developments and findings of international agencies as well as researchers have revealed that ideally, the infant thrives best on exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of life, as well as continued breast-feeding together with complementary foods for the first two years. The World Health Organisation by World Health Assembly Resolution No. 47.5, dated the 9th May, 1994 called upon all Member Nations to aim at achieving this goal. The said resolution, inter alia, required Member Nations to foster appropriate complementary feeding practices for the infants from the age of about six months and encourage continued breast-feeding as well as proper feeding with safe and adequate amounts of local foods until the infant attains the age of two years.2. In order to review and suggest appropriate amendments in the said Act, the Department of Women and Child Development constituted a Task Force comprising of representatives from various Ministries and Departments of the Central Government and Voluntary Agencies authorised under section 21 of the Act. The National Commission for Women has also considered the provisions of the Act and suggested certain modifications therein.3. Taking into consideration the recommendations of the said Task Force and of the National Commission for Women and the difficulties being experienced in the implementation of the provisions of the Act, it has become necessary to amend the existing provisions so as to encourage continued breast-feeding and to prohibit all forms of advertising and promotion-light, sound, smoke or gas or by means of electronic transmission or by audio or visual transmission in relation to infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods.[29th December, 1992]An Act to provide for the regulation of production, supply and distribution of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods with a view to the protection and promotion of breast-feeding and ensuring the proper use of infant foods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.Be it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:-| Brought into force on 1.8.1993 vide G.S.R. 527(E), dated 31.7.1993, published in the Gazette of India, Ext., Pt. II, Section 3(i), dated 31.7.1993. |