GOVERNMENT has given manufacturers of infant formula and baby food stuffs a one month ultimatum in which they should write to the Ministry of Health indicating challenges they are facing before they can start abiding by regulations contained in Statutory Instrument (SI) 48 of 2006.
The SI 48 regulates the marketing of breast-feeding substitutes in the country and restricts the way that breast milk substitute manufacturers market their products.This was the reason behind a large-scale seizure of infant formula in Mansa and Kasama stores last month.
Infant formula was removed because of the messages and pictures that were displayed on the packaging. The claim is that the packaging made an attempt to persuade mothers to feed their infants the substitute instead of breastfeeding, which is a direct violation.
It is recommended that all women breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of an infant’s life. And while mothers cannot be forced to breastfeed, the guidelines on formula sales are in place to help encourage breastfeeding, which has been proven in multiple studies to provide many benefits to mother and baby.
In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Health permanent secretary Peter Mwaba said his ministry held a meeting with stakeholders on November 24 this year during which it was resolved that manufacturers of baby foodstuffs should explain challenges they face before their products are completely withdrawn from the market.
Dr Mwaba said if stakeholders do not get back to the ministry on the agreed date, Government will take it that they have agreed to follow SI 48 regulations.
He said the ministry is aware that most manufacturers of both infant formula and baby food stuffs are not following what is stipulated in SI 48.
Dr Mwaba said although all stakeholders showed willingness to abide by SI 48 during last month’s meeting, they will have to inform the ministry when they will be able to start following SI 48.
He said all affected stores such as Shoprite, Spur and Pick and Pay have been allowed to sell their remaining stock but have been advised not to order new stock.
Dr Mwaba said government is willing to hold another meeting with stakeholders to agree on the date when the unwanted food products will completely be withdrawn from the market.
He said government will ensure that health related laws are strictly adhered to by all stakeholders.
And Dr Mwaba said the infant formula and baby food that was seized from Shoprite stores in Kasama and Mansa last month will not be returned but will be handed over to court as evidence.
OK, so what’s wrong with the instant formula and baby food stuffs now? Can the reporter please educate us as to why the Zambian govt intend to ban these food stuffs? Only then can your readers make intelligient comments!!!!!!!
Am not sure what SI48 is? What is wrong wirh these products?
Bwana PS, its the babies on formula you are punishing and not traders.Exercise caution in handling this issue !
Whats wrong with you reporters? You always give us half truths and this is very frustrating! Can you tell us the problem here? You are behaving like we already know the story!
Poor reporting.
Not enough data as to why….
This isnt making any slightest sense to me. My baby is fed on cerelac and given S26 during the day when mum, who needs to help with the up keep of the house goes for work. Now what will most babies be fed on ? Mind you, some parents are HIV+ hence cant breast feed. PLEASE GIVE US FULLY BAKED NEWS…..Otherwise, senseless article.
Can PF also abide by the civic laws and refuse Sata’s directive to have more street vending. we are giving them 3 weeks to abide by civic laws.
you ***** stick to the topic.
HIV positive mothers are not allowed to breast feed lest they pass on the virus to the infant. Now this useless reporter has not addressed this important aspect. With the alarming poverty levels in the country why does this reporter think a mother would prefer expensive tinned milk to breast milk! then this PF GRZ should also realise that women have to work now to survive!!
This is sentencing mothers who cannot breastfeed to starving their own child. What a stupid directive from the ministry.
With HIV rates as high as now they still want to force mothers to pass on the disease.
Poor babies!
Where possible, breast-feeding is the best. In cases of busy healthy mothers, it is also possible to pump the milk out the night before and freeze it. In cases where it is not advisable, there is no choice but to use alternatives. I would, however, recommend to my fellow parents and parents to be that it is wise to do some research on the various alternatives, and the closer to organic, the better. The argument the government has here (and it is an international concern) is the manner of packaging and advertising which might encourage even people who are otherwise well suited to breast-feed to get attracted to formulas instead. It is a similar argument with tobacco advertising.
LT you suckers can not stand criticism and yet you want democracy?Democracy means free speech I have the right to publish on yr blog otherwise I may litigate and shut you down.What I see here is the narrow Zambian news media mentality.Wake up guys critics will help you to produce quality product (News) Happy Christmas Guys from the Metal Lands so long.
LT you suckers can not stand criticism and yet you want democracy?Democracy means free speech I have the right to publish on yr blog otherwise I may litigate and shut you down.What I see here is the narrow Zambian news media mentality.Wake up guys critics will help you to produce quality product (News) Happy Christmas Guys from the Metal Lands so long.
What is MOH up to? Are they saying its ok for shoprite, pick n pay, spur to sell the “suspicious products” and not anyone else? And what is wrong with these products, which products specifically. I think if our Govt has to seriously regulate quality of products, they should tell us which products and outlets/stores are selling these so we are well informed and avoid buying them. Just putting it generally does not help us. Does this mean that we should stop feeding our children?
The article does say its the packaging that is the issue not the product itself. If the packaging is being used by manufactures to imply the product is better than breastmilk rather than an alternative to be used if needed then quite right that should be changed.
Finally the government is doing something about this terrible issue which destroys the lives of precious babies. Forcing the manufacturers to finally comply with the World Health Organisation’s code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes will go some way towards stopping babies in Malawi DYING from inappropriate formula feeding.
And if you don’t understand the background to this story? Before mouthing off at the journalism which assumes an understanding of the history behind all this (easily found on the Internet)
While infant formula is sometimes necessary (and certainly should be available) its carries serious risks (see here: http://www.infactcanada.ca/RisksofFormulaFeeding.pdf). In many countries the formula companies make it worse by not putting clear instructions on the packet, in the correct language, and babies die because formula is made up wrong. Furthermore they illegally promote it implying or stating that it’s as good or better than breastmilk. While the risks of formula feeding are moot when there is not the option to give breastmilk, they are serious compared to the option of being able to give breastmilk. It is not a “choice” that should be seen as equal but the marketing of these products has led us to think it so.
Don’t condemn GRZ, condemn the dull reporter who has failed to give us more information on why the GRZ took this measure!
This is foolishness at its best. I bet almost all the baby milk is imported and it follows that the government will have to engage foreign manufacturers of baby milk to stop putting images of babies on their products. Some laws can be stupid but this one is plain stupid indeed.
Milk sharing and wetnursing provide breastmilk for those in need. Formula is not an acceptable sustitute for a mother’s milk. Check out Human Milk 4 Human Babies to find milk donors in your local area.
Ok, not too much data. But if they are just banning the products for nothing, then this is stupidity at its best, displayed by monkeys in a circus. Surely its up to a mother to choose whats best for the child. This formula is a must, and most mothers in urban areas know that, so Dr MAMBALA, Â stop it will you!!!
I hope this does not mean the end of Neatle in Zambia!
I hope this does not mean the end of Nestle in Zambia!
I hope this does not mean the end of Nestle in Zambia.