A further issue is the low take-up of breastfeeding, which has suffered from the tolerance of the activities of baby milk manufacturers over the years.
No information is available centrally on the sponsorship provided by the baby milk industry to health authorities and trusts.
They should change their mind and ban baby milk and infant formula advertising as soon as possible, wherever it is promoted.
I regret that information about the cost of the service, and about the take-up of modified baby milk, is not available by health region.
To supply free welfare baby milk through retail pharmacies, instead of through child health clinics, would increase the cost of this service by approximately one-third.
The sale of proprietary goods such as baby milk foods is also undertaken in some clinics.
The new regulations give a statutory basis to the restrictions on advertising in place since 1983 under the voluntary agreement with the baby milk manufacturers.
Further, once the child is born, it is entitled to free liquid milk or dried baby milk and free vitamins.
