I am writing with an urgent request regarding the forthcoming Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Berlin, 26th-30th November).

One of the issues to be discussed is the labelling of complementary foods.

For many years there has been a fierce industry lobby against the World Health Assembly recommendation that complementary feeding should be fostered from about 6 months of age (WHA Resolution 47.5 adopted in 1994). The industry has been pushing to be allowed to label and promote complementary foods for use from 4 months of age.

This year, a WHO expert consultation reviewed over 3,000 research studies and concluded that reduction of infectious disease morbidity and reduction in mortality are the most important potential advantages of exclusive breastfeeding for six months, especially the reduction of gastrointestinal infections.

A few months later a landmark World Health Assembly Resolution 54.2 was adopted by consensus which called for the protection of exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

The World Health Assembly recognised that some mothers may wish or be well-advised to use complementary foods before 6 months of age but decided that a global public health policy of '6 months' would not prevent health workers from advising mothers on an case by case basis to introduce foods earlier.

Already over 60 countries have policies which promote exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months. These policies might well be threatened if a global labelling standard of 4 months were to be adopted at Codex.

As the pressure to expand the baby food market continues, it is vital that the sovereign right of Governments to implement the WHA Resolutions is protected, and that trade rules do not undermine health.

Can you confirm that the Government will be supporting the '6 month' recommendation of Resolution 54.2 at the forthcoming Codex meeting and will be opposing any industry lobby attempting to undermine it?