Thread: Law banning baby formula marketing takes effect today

The Control of Marketing of Infant and Young Child Food Act of 2017, which bans all advertising for infant formula milk as well as other food products for infants and young children, will take effect today (Sept 8).

The first of its kind in Thailand, the new law is intended to protect consumers in the infant and young child group.

It forbids sales promotion activities such as giving discount coupons, free samples, gifts and prizes, which companies use to attract customers. Medical, nursing and public health personnel will also be bound by the act to support, promote and protect breastfeeding. Violators will face stiff fines.

According to Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, the law is based on the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, which has been recognised by Thailand since 1981.

In the initial stage, this international code was applied for use by asking the business sector to cooperate on a voluntary basis. The Public Health Ministry issued a ministerial regulation in 2008, but it was found to be ineffective as there were still inappropriate advertising and sale promotions.

The ministry subsequently proposed the legislation of the Control of Marketing of Infant and Young Child Act, which will become effective from Sept 8.

The law provides control of advertising for milk substitutes and other food products for infants from new-born to 12 months and for children between 12 months and 3 years of age. Producers, importers or sellers of infant formula milk are prohibited from:

Advertising food products for children in a way that may cause people to believe they are good for infants;
Giving discount coupons, free samples, gifts, prizes and samples, either directly or indirectly;
Offering gifts, money, or interests to public health personnel;
Organsing a meeting, training or a seminar on food for infants and children for public health service agencies or their personnnel; and
Donating food for infants or children to public health service agencies or their personnel, except to people who are sick of specific diseases or those with physical abnormalities.
Vachira Pengchan, director-general of the Health Department, said the department has appointed officials to monitor violations of the law.

Those who advertise products in violation of this law are liable to a jail term of not exceeding one year and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or an additional fine of not more than 10,000 baht per day until the violation has ended.

Dr Daniel Kertesz, the WHO Representative to Thailand, recently said the Control of Marketing of Infant and Young Child Food Act of 2017 shows a strong intention of the Thai government to protect the health and development of Thai children. The law has made Thailand one of the 135 countries worldwide to have a law to protect breastfeeding.

Law banning baby formula marketing takes effect today - Thai PBS English News

WTF....!!!!!

Is this a joke?

Yes, I'm all for breast feeding, especially in public. What red blooded male isn't but to ban advertising powdered baby milk? Has the government gone mad?

My wife breast fed our baby for about 3 months then changed him to powdered milk. The reason being was the baby kept biting her nipples and it was extremely painful she said. I also approved because I was sick of perverts learing at my wifes tits.

No, this is another WTF moments of the current government. A bit like when they banned people from sitting on the back of a pickup, when the pickup is Thailands favourite car to buy. It's like someone is holding a cabinet meeting and asking "Now, what can we do today to p1ss people off? Any ideas?"

erm, wtf is the thinking behind this.....?

It may be that baby formula is often made with dirty water, whether from bacteria or chemical contamination. It's just a lot safer and healthier, especially for poor babies, to drink breast milk.

The British NHS seems to have no doubts, but Thailand is becoming a nanny state.

[I]Benefits of breastfeeding

It's never too early to start thinking about how you're going to feed your baby. But you don't have to make up your mind until your baby is born.
In the UK, more than 73% of mothers start breastfeeding. These are some of the reasons why:
your breast milk is perfectly designed for your baby
breast milk protects your baby from infections and diseases
breastfeeding provides health benefits for you
breast milk is available for your baby whenever your baby needs it
breastfeeding can build a strong emotional bond between you and your baby
Formula milk doesn't provide the same protection from illness and doesn't give you any health benefits.[/I]
Benefits of breastfeeding - Pregnancy and baby guide - NHS Choices

Originally Posted by Kurgen

erm, wtf is the thinking behind this.....?

Someone in PT / not in the Army has a powdered milk company / monopoly?

who would trust a chin/thai business person to make infant formula ?

Originally Posted by baldrick

who would trust a chin/thai business person to make infant formula ?

Yep. Was China recently, contaminated baby formula (infused with melamine, to up the protein count) killed a few kids. Cnuts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal

Originally Posted by Kurgen

erm, wtf is the thinking behind this.....?

See post #5.

Sound and exceedingly natural.
A decent substitute for processed chemical and artificially ladened "food" product.

As we still have this illusion that we can improve on Mother Nature.

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Originally Posted by Kurgen

erm, wtf is the thinking behind this.....?

See post #5.

Sound and exceedingly natural.
A decent substitute for processed chemical and artificially ladened "food" product.

As we still have this illusion that we can improve on Mother Nature.

I seem to recall that one of the issues with baby powder formulas is that parents who are in an economically challenged position try to save money by using more water than suggested by the manufacturer. When they mix the formula at less than the recommended ratio, the baby’s end up being full after a feeding but over time end up suffering from malnutrition.

How easy and consistently manipulated we have become.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

, I'm all for breast feeding, especially in public.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

I was sick of perverts learing at my wifes tits.

Errrr...

Originally Posted by David48atTD

We breast fed for 12 months

How did that work? Did you take turns?

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Sound and exceedingly natural.

Believe it or not...both of my daughters had allergic reactions to my wife's breast milk and also to regular baby formulas. They had to be fed with some specialized formula that cost a fortune even back then(1980s). Luckily my health plan at the time covered most of it.

It's been so long ago but I think it was lactose that was the problem.

As adults they both can now consume dairy products...weird.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

We breast fed for 12 months.

How did your nipples hold up David?

what I do not understand is why child formula milk products are so expensive here?