Women for breastfeeding

RA 7600, RA 10028, and the Philippine Milk Code

women4breastfeeding

2 years ago

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Here are the laws the Philippines has enacted and has been implementing to help protect and promote
breastfeeding in the country.

RA 7600 or “THE ROOMING-IN AND BREASTFEEDING ACT OF 1992″

AN ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITH
ROOMING-IN AND BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

This law is in promotion of the State policy to encourage the practice of breastfeeding in the Philippines.
It composes of 14 Sections divided into 4 chapters.

Chapter 1 states the rules and regulations which contain standard procedures to be followed for
rooming-in and breastfeeding in all private and government health institutions. Specific provisions are
made for complicated births. The right of the mother to breastfeed and the right of the infant to receive
breast milk is expressed, and mothers may only exercise their right to bottle feed after being fully
informed of the benefits of breastfeeding and by expressing their intention to formula feed in writing.

The regulations cover the establishment and operation of human milk banks and the donation of human
milk which is stated in Chapter 2 of the act.

Provisions are stated in Chapter 3 of the act for the continuing education and training of health
personnel and the education and counseling of parents.
Other provisions indicated in Chapter 4 states that the only milk formula to be stocked in the hospital is
to be kept in a closed cabinet out of sight and used for only emergency purposes upon issuance of a
prescription. These prohibitions extend to the use of pacifiers, the donation of samples of formula, and
the promotion of infant formulas in hospitals. Government and private hospitals will receive financial
incentives for compliance. Noncompliance will place health personnel and institutions in danger of losing
their licenses and of being found guilty of a wrongdoing.

RA 10028 or “THE EXPANDED BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION ACT OF 2009”

AN ACT EXPANDING THE PROMOTION OF BREASTFEEDING, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 7600

Provisions:

Lactation stations in every private enterprises, government agencies, government-owned and controlled
corporations

“Lactation periods” for breastfeeding employees, in addition to time-off for meals, to allow them time to
express their breast milk.

Breast milk banks in health institutions to store pasteurized breast milk donated by breastfeeding
mothers.

Inclusion of breastfeeding in the curriculum of schools (under relevant subjects).

According to an article by Smart Parenting in 2010, breastfeeding support groups and advocates see this
RA as strong help for restoring breastfeeding as a social practice in the Philippines. In the Philippines, just
34% of moms wind up breastfeeding their infants only up to the initial a half year of life (the suggested
least breastfeeding time of UNICEF). This might be mostly ascribed to the way that numerous Filipinas
are likewise working moms who need to come back to work inside a few months of giving birth. This law,
which bolsters breastfeeding moms in the work environment, will no doubt urge more Filipino children
to be breastfed.

The Philippine Milk Code of 1986 or Executive Order 51

A LAW IMPOSING STRICT FORMULA MILK MARKETING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Marketing includes:

product promotion

distribution

selling

advertising

product public relations

information services

In short summary, E.O. 51 imposes:

NO MILK COMPANY SHOULD SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING ACTIVITIES

NO HEALTH AND NUTRITION WORKER SHOULD PROMOTE OR SELL INFANT FORMULA AND OTHER MILK
PRODUCTS AND BOTTLES

NO MATERIAL THAT PROMOTES BREASTMILK SUBSTITUTES SHOULD BE VISIBLE IN ALL HEALTH AND
NUTRITION FACILITIES

MILK COMPANIES SHOULD ENSURE ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THE USE AND QUALITY OF THEIR
PRODUCTS (INSTRUCTIONS, EXPIRATION DATE, ETC.)

Other relevant laws

International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes

No advertising of breastmilk substitutes

No distribution of free samples of breastmilk substitutes

No gift or free samples of breastmilk substitutes shall be given to healthcare workers

Information on artificial breastfeeding should explain the benefits of breastfeeding and the costs/hazards
of artificial feeding

No pictures idealizing artificial feeding shall be placed in the products

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Tags: breastfeeding, laws, philippines

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