Overview on the Philippine Milk

Code (EO 51) and its revised

Rules and Regulations (RIRR)

UNDERSTANDING THE MILK CODE IN THE

PHILIPPINES (E0 51) AND
ITS REVISED RULES AND REGULATIONS (rIRR)

DRAFT-NOT FOR
DISTRIBUTION-

Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Highlights of the
Philippine Milk Code
Regulates advertising and promotion of
covered products by IAC
No sampling and gifts of any sort
No point of sale advertising, giving of
samples or any promotional devices to
induce sales
Donations (products covered and non
covered)
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Highlights
Health care system not to be used for promotion,
however it allows dissemination of info to health
professionals (scientific and factual)
No displays of products or posters in the health
facility
No financial or material inducements to health
workers, except assist in research, scholarships,
continuing education
Labels subject to approval by BFAD
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Revised IRR
Advertising, promotions or sponsorships
needs to be reviewed by IAC (but not age
limited)
Information on the hazards of breastmilk
substitutes and supplements
Sponsorships of researches subject to
approval
New labeling guidelines
Industry should not be part of policy making
bodies
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Revised IRR

No products or gifts of any sort

Quality and standards
Creation of monitoring teams at all levels
Industry should not be part of
breastfeeding education/information
activities
Donation of products covered by the Law
are prohibited
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Relationship between EO 51 and

the revised Implementing Rules
and Regulations (rIRR)
Executive Order 51 (Mother Law)
Implementing Rules and Regulations (provides the
standards to implement)
Guidelines
(procedures that support the IRR)
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Aim of the Code

Section 2.
The Code in effect aims to contribute to the
provision of safe and adequate nutrition of
infants by the protection and promotion of
breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper
use of breastmilk substitutes and
breastmilk supplements when these are
necessary on the basis of adequate
information and through appropriate
marketing and distribution;
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Scope of the Code

Section 3: The Code applies to the Marketing,
and practices related thereto, of the following
products: breastmilk substitutes, including
infant formula; other milk products, foods
and beverages, including bottle fed
complementary foods, when marketed or
otherwise represented to be suitable, with or
without modification, for use as a partial or total
replacement of breastmilk; bottles and teats.
It also applies to their quality and availability,
and to information concerning their use.
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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Lets define some of the products

covered by the Law
Section 4:
(a) Breastmilk Substitute
means any food being marketed pr
otherwise represented as a partial or
total replacement for breastmilk ,
whether or not suitable for that purpose

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Executive Order 51 and it

s rIRR

Lets define some of the products

covered by the Law
Section 4:
(b) Complementary Food
Means any food, whether manufactured or
locally prepared, suitable as a
complement to breastmilk or to infant
formula, when either becomes
insufficient to satisfy the nutritional
requirements of the infant.
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Lets define some of the products

covered by the Law
Section 4:
(h) Infant Formula
Means any breastmilk substitute formulated
industrially in accordance with applicable
Codex Alimentarius standards, to satisfy
the normal nutritional requirements of
infants .

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So, what is covered by the Law and

until what age?
The Supreme Court has clarified that:
The Coverage of the Milk Code is not
dependent on the age of the child but on
the KIND OF PRODUCT being marketed
to the public. The law treats infant formula,
bottle-fed complementary food, and
breastmilk substitutes as separate and
distinct product categories
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Executive Order 51 and it

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So, what is covered by the Law and

until what age?
And also:
Breastmilk Substitutes may also be
intended for young children more than 12
months of age. Therefore, by regulating
breastmilk substitutes, the Milk code also
intends to protect and the nourishment of
children more than 12 months

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Executive Order 51 and it

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So, what is covered by the Law and

until what age?
As of today BREASTMILK
SUSBSTITUTES are considered those
products intended to feed infants and
young children from birth to 3 years old
But remember:
Any other milk, food and liquid products can
be covered by the Law if its promotion and
marketing undermines breastfeeding!!!
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Examples of Products that are

under the scope of the Law

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Examples of Products that are under the scope of

the Law

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Examples of Products that are under the scope of the Law

Feeding bottles and teats

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Reproduced with permission of IBFAN-ICDC,
s rIRR
Penang.

Nestl cereal
labels changed
to 6 months
.

but product promotion targets younger babies

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FOR
Executive Order 51 and it
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Reproduced with permission of IBFAN-ICDC,

DISTRIBUTION-

s rIRR

Penang.

Reproduced with permission of IBFAN-ICDC, Penang.and

Arugaan,2009

Products which are not under scope

BUT discourage breastfeeding

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s rIRR

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