The tables below give details of some recent violations. The date when the violation was last reported to Baby Milk Action or confirmed to be current is given. The violation reference is for Baby Milk Action's records. Please quote it if forwarding correspondence to us, if possible.

• Nestlé attempts to weaken Pakistan's proposed law
• Wyeth (SMA) attempts to take over from health professionals...
• ...and promotes genetically engineered soya to mothers

Nestlé attempts to weaken Pakistan's proposed law

Company	Item	Date	Violation Reference
Nestlé	Campaign to weaken implementation of the International Code and Resolutions in national measures	November 1997	comp/98/01

Nestlé has been marketing its baby foods aggressively in Pakistan for some time. With five and a half million babies born every year the potential profit is massive if it can only persuade mothers to artificially feed their children.

Now the Government of Pakistan is on the verge of introducing a law which will prevent companies from promoting their products to mothers and allows only scientific and factual information to be provided to health workers. The draft law reflects the provisions of the International Code which was adopted by the World Health Assembly as a "minimum requirement" to be implemented in its "entirety" by Member States. Subsequent Resolutions of the World Health Assembly have clarified articles in the International Code in light of on-going scientific investigation and to address questions of interpretation.

Nestlé, however, wrote to the Secretary of Health on 27th November 1997 to protest against the law, describing it as "impractical and not workable and therefore bereft of any support from... the industry."

Nestlé argues against the ban on advertising and promotion contained in the law and does not agree that the body to be responsible for monitoring the law should be independent of industry. Nestlé also attacks other provisions relating to labelling, even though these reflect policies adopted by the World Health Assembly. All this goes against Nestlé's publicly stated commitment to support implementation of the International Code and Resolutions. Nestlé grumbles: "the Act appears to regard the industry...as potential criminals rather than partners in the promotion of better health and economic conditions for Pakistan."

Write to Nestlé requesting that it explains why it is not honouring its stated commitment to support implementation of the International Codeand Resolutions.

Violation	Complain to
Attempting to undermine government implementation of the International Code , called for by Article 11.1	Mr. Peter Brabeck, CEO Nestlé, 55, av. Nestlé, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland.

Wyeth (SMA) attempts to take over from health professionals

Company	Item	Date	Violation Reference
Wyeth	Seeking direct contact with mothers through its "Careline"	December 1997	comp/98/02

Wyeth, a subsidiary of American Home Products, and manufacturer of the SMA range of baby milks, is seeking direct contact with mothers to promote its products. SMAâs round-the-clock telephone "Careline" is being widely promoted in the UK - in advertisements and booklets and on leaflets (see below) and product labels - in contravention of the UK Law and the International Code. Parents are also invited to send off for a magnet to stick onto their fridge so the telephone number is always at hand. Leaflets promoting the "Careline" have even been found in Kenya.

The important requirement of Article 9.2 of the International Code that products should only be used on the advice of a health worker is undermined by SMAâs suggestion: "Or you can call us on the special Careline number."

Write to Wyeth asking it to:

• abide by the labelling requirements of the InternationalCode (Article 9.2) and Article 5.4 and Article 5.5 prohibiting gifts and contact with mothers by ending promotion of its telephone number as an information line.
• limit itself to providing scientific and factual information to health workers only as stipulated by Article 5.1 and Article 7.2 of the International Code.

Violation	Complain to
The International Codebans companies from seeking direct or indirect contact with mothers or pregant women.	Mr. John R. Stafford, CEO, Wyeth (American Home Products), PO Box 8616, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, USA.

Wyeth (SMA) promotes genetically engineered soya to mothers

Company	Item	Date	Violation Reference
Wyeth	Leaflet on soya and infant foods	November 1997	comp/98/03

UK parents contacting the SMA "Careline" phone number are likely to be sent a misleading leaflet produced by Wyeth and entitled, ãSoya, Customer Information.ä The leaflet refers to soya based infant foods, but does not include the following information:

• The Department of Healthâs concern about the high levels of phytoestrogens in soya baby milks
• the need to consult a health worker before use
• the high aluminium content in soya
• the high glucose content of soya baby milks
• the fact that exclusive breastfeeding is the most effective way of minimising risk of allergies - indeed, a recent study of high risk infants with a family history of allergy found that soya milk was not effective in reducing the incidence of allergies (Ref: Ranjit Kumar Chandra 1997 Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 24:380-388).

Wyeth is not permitted to seek direct or indirect contact with mothers of infants and young children (International Code Article 5.5) and is limited to providing scientific and factual information to health workers (Article 7.2). Educational materials are permitted if they do not refer to a proprietary product and have been requested by the health care system (Article 4.3), but they must include information on the superiority of breastfeeding and the hazards of artificial infant feeding (Article 4.2).

Write to Wyeth asking it to withdraw this leaflet and abide by the International Code.

Violation	Complain to
Direct promotion to mothers with a leaflet which does not even conform to the International Code requirements for educational information	Mr. John R. Stafford, CEO, Wyeth (American Home Products), PO Box 8616, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, USA.

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