This is one of the contents regulated under the Decree No. 100/2014/ND-CP of the Government on the trading in and use of nutritious products for infants, feeding bottles and teats, replacing the Decree No. 21/2006/ND-CP dated February 27, 2006.
Specifically, the Government strictly prohibits the advertising of breast milk substitutes for under-24 month infants (instead of advertising milk for under 12 months as previously) to encourage breast feeding. At the same time, the advertising of complementary foods for under-6 month infants; feeding bottles and teats in any forms; the use of fetus or infant images in advertisements for milk for pregnant women are also prohibited.
For the advertising of complementary foods for under-24 month infants, advertising contents must clearly state “This product is a complementary food and may be used as a supplement to breast milk for infants over 6 months”; and the first part of the advertisement must have the phrase “Breast milk is the best food for health and all-sided growth of infants”.
Besides, this Decree also regulates in detail on responsibilities of establishments producing and trading in nutritious products for infants. Of which, production and business establishments may not send their employees to directly or indirectly contact mothers, pregnant women or members of their families at or outside medical establishments in order to advertise, disseminate and encourage the use of breast milk substitutes; display breast milk substitutes or complementary foods for under-6 month infants at medical establishments; display names or logos of breast milk substitutes on banners, posters and other leaflets in supermarkets, retail stores and medical establishments; Apply sales promotion measures for breast milk substitutes such as giving free samples, coupons, rewards, gifts, point accumulation for rewards, discount or any other forms…
This Decree takes effect on March 1, 2015.
