Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2025
320. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to correspondence sent to her by an organisation (details supplied); the action she will take to address the concerns raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn alignment with international best practice and evidence-based research, national health policy (including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy) emphasises the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) established the WHO International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes to promote safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast-milk substitutes. The Code applies to breast milk substitutes (infant formula) when marketed or otherwise represented to be suitable, with or without modification, for use as a partial or total replacement of breast milk.
Under EU legislation, the requirements for promotional and commercial practices for infant formula are set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127. These measures are designed so that the marketing and distribution of infant formula does not interfere with the protection and promotion of breastfeeding.
Public health authorities, which includes the Department of Health, are referred to in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act with regard to consultation with the Coimisiún na Meán on the development of media service and online safety codes relating to the marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar and also follow on formula, where there is a public health concern with regard to the health of children. Officials in the Department of Health meet regularly with the Coimisiún na Meán to discuss developments in relation to such codes.
The Department of Health submitted a response to the consultation held by the Coimisiún na Meán in January 2024 in relation to the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods (HFSS) and beverages and infant and follow-on formula to children, stating the importance of introducing codes in relation to these areas. The Healthy Weight for Children Group, comprising of the HSE, Safefood, the Irish Heart Foundation and the Institute of Public Health, also made a submission at that time calling for greater restrictions around HFSS products and breastmilk substitutes.
Coimisiún na Meán held another consultation in December 2024, seeking views on changes that stakeholders may want that are above and beyond those proposed in the current codes and rules issued for consultation in October 2024, with specific questions asked around additions or amendments stakeholders would like to see in relation to the advertising of High Fat, Salt, and Sugar products, and the advertising of infant formula, including follow-on formula. The Department of Health provided a submission to this consultation.
Last year, the Department of Health formed a breastfeeding steering group to research and design the development of a new whole of government breastfeeding policy. While there has been a significant amount of implementation of the actions under the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan, further implementation of these actions is needed under the development of a new whole of government breastfeeding policy, including implementation of the WHO Code.
In this regard, consultation with Comisiún na Meán is ongoing in the development of the new Obesity Policy and Action Plan and the new Breastfeeding Strategy in respect to regulation of marketing of High fat, salt and sugar foods and for breastmilk substitutes.
