Globalization for the Protection of Breastfeeding Session 1: What did we learn? We looked at what is globalization Globalization priorities are economic - human health, the environment, human rights are secondary shift power from the governments to transnational corporations globalization increases disparity between the rich and the poor between rich countries and poor countries

globalization increases environmental damage globalization reduces trade barriers globalization can be a threat to the International Code and the protection of breastfeeding

We learned about the World Trade Organization and the various means by which trade is facilitated and how there are exemptions in the trade rules to protect human health, human rights and the environment.

We learned how the status of the International Code must be protected in the trade facilitation process. In the second session: We looked more intensely at the process of global standard setting for infant foods – infant formula and cereal-based foods for infants and young children – and how the breastfeeding movement – IBFAN – is working to protect the International Code, the recommended practice of exclusive breastfeeding for six months and optimal complementary feeding practices at the Code Alimentarius.

We learned that the work at the Codex meetings combining our efforts at the national level and at the international level, the results have been very good. We have been able to include the International Code in the Scope of the infant food standards; we have been able to make labeling changes that increase warnings to parents about infant formula feeding; we have been able to insert the labeling provisions of the International Code into the labeling requirements of the infant formula standard.

We also learned how the International Code and the Code Alimentarius process are complementary and how the work in one affects the work in the other.

Continuous work needs to be done, especially in the area of health claims; the labeling of six months for complementary foods; restricting the infant formulas for special medical purposes – which can be used as a means by which the industry circumvents the international code.

In the final session we discussed Action needed: To increase the linkages –  with the anti-trade groups so we can be more fully informed about the relationship of trade to the power of the infant foods companies

 with the People’s health Movement  link our issues with the People’s Health Charter As the World Breastfeeding Week Theme for 2003 will be based on the topic of globalization we also decided to use communications that will help to create both understanding of these issues as well action.