Parliament on Tuesday enacted a law to regulate indiscriminate sales of commercially produced baby food and food supplements, aiming to promote breastfeeding.
Articles used for baby feeding will also come under the regulation, according to the law, which was enacted after the Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque proposed its passage.
The law will prohibit sales and marketing of baby food and children’s food supplements without prior registration from the institute of public health under the health ministry.
In addition, the law will prohibit the registered importers and sellers or producers to sell formula and other food supplements for children without mentioning some basic facts about breastfeeding.
Accordingly, the containers of such products must clearly read: “Alternative food and food supplements are not the principal source of children’s nutrition;” or, “Nothing can match breast feeding;” and other information.
Use of cartoons or signs identifying the alternative baby food and food supplements will also be prohibited under the new law.
Anyone violating any section of the bill would face three years in jail or a fine of Tk500,000 or both in line with the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Passage of the law will authorise the government to form a national committee for advising the authorities concerned on the international code of marketing of baby food and baby food supplements