Since submissions to the ACCC about the MAIF Agreement closed at the end of last month there has been ongoing coverage in the media about the MAIF Agreement and toddler milks. Several national health organisations made statements that were in alignment with ABA’s recommendations to NOT re-authorise the MAIF Agreement. The president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) was particularly vocal and called for The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (The WHO Code) to be adopted by Australia. The AMA also criticised the marketing of toddler milks and called them unnecessary. You can read more HERE.
A few days later the Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney spoke about her own experience of being unable to breastfeed when she was unwell after the birth of her third child and called for better support and information for Australian women using infant formula. She defended the government’s recommendation of a three-year extension to the MAIF Agreement as wanting more time to take a holistic approach to changes. Kearney also commented on the marketing of toddler milks as a concerning development. You can see the article via this link but it is subscriber content.
ABA continues to advocate for no extension to the MAIF Agreement and a commitment to full adoption of The WHO Code.