Eight companies follow through on commitments (see Summary of Company Responses for details)
Company
Response Table
January 15, 2024
Two companies have fulfilled commitments made in response to the CTA. Specifically:
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Health & Happiness (H&H) published its revised BMS Marketing Policy in March 2023. Based on a preliminary assessment of the policy, it covers all types of formulas for infants from 0-12 months globally and is upheld even where local regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy. The improved geographic and product scope is noted and welcomed. The extent of alignment of H&H's revised policy and practices to the Code will be evaluated in ATNI's upcoming BMS Marketing Index.
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Danone updated its Healthcare Systems Compliance Policy and reported that they encouraged the European trade association for specialized nutrition to adopt a similar code of conduct on interactions with HCPs. Danone also advocated for Australia and New Zealand to translate the voluntary code that restricts marketing of 0-12 products into law.
March 15, 2023
Eight companies have fulfilled commitments made in response to the CTA. Specifically:
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FrieslandCampina extended its policy to restrict marketing of BMS products intended for infants from birth up to 6 months of age to apply globally.
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Nestlé extended its policy to restrict marketing of BMS products intended for infants from birth up to 6 months of age to apply globally (instead of just to higher risk countries).
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Asahi, KraftHeinz, Meiji, Megmilk, Morinaga, and Pepsico published first ever BMS policies.
In addition, Glico and Morinaga have pledged to achieve full Code Compliance by 2030.
We commend these companies for taking these steps and encourage other companies to end inappropriate marketing of BMS to improve nutrition and health of babies worldwide. Please refer to the table below and individual company responses and signatory assessments for additional detail.
Below is a table summarizing company responses to the CTA and the signatories’ assessment of how comprehensively they meet the asks of the CTA. Companies appear in alphabetical order. Color coding indicates the degree to which each individual company has met each element of Asks 1-3 of the CTA, as follows:
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Red - no commitment
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Yellow - partial commitment
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Green - full commitment
Ask 4 is evaluated with a check or x. The table also includes commitments that companies made outside of the CTA in their responses to the CTA. This tool is designed to offer an overview of all company responses, so please reference the complete responses and assessment information via the links on the Company Responses page for further details. We may provide additional detail in updates to this summary.
Ask 1
(two parts)
Publicly commit your company to full compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions (the Code) globally (including coverage of breastmilk substitutes up to 36 months of age).
Disclose a concrete plan for achieving this goal by 2030 at the latest, with delineation of clear incremental steps.
Ask 2
As a first step toward full Code compliance, by the end of 2020: → For companies that do not currently have a BMS marketing policy, adopt a Code-aligned BMS marketing policy for all countries for products marketed as suitable for infants between birth and 12 months of age, and commit to upholding your policy including in all jurisdictions where regulations are absent or less stringent than your policy. In countries where national law is more stringent than your policy, adherence to national law always takes precedence. → For companies that have a BMS marketing policy in place, ensure that your current policy and practices (including promotion to consumers and healthcare providers) are Code-aligned and for products marketed as suitable for infants between birth and 12 months of age, extend them to all countries, and commit to upholding your policy in all jurisdictions even where regulations are absent or less stringent than your policy. In countries where national law is more stringent than your policy, adherence to national law always takes precedence.
Ask 3
Commit to support the adoption and implementation of national legislation fully aligned with the Code in order to create a level playing field for all companies.
Ask 4
Agree to provide information on your company’s policies and practices to the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) as requested, recognizing ATNI as an independent actor responsible for monitoring companies’ progress toward their plans for achieving Code compliance.
Abbott
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, Abbott updated its policy on BMS marketing in 2023, however it has not been published to date. The policy is global for infant formula intended for infants 0-6 months of age (excluding formula for special medical purposes) but applies to follow-up formula intended for older infants 6-12 months of age (excluding formula for special medical purposes) only in higher-risk countries. The policy applies in all jurisdictions where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than its policy. However, the policy has several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Abbott's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - extend globally for all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age, including formula for special medical purposes
Ask 3
The company does not make the requested commitment.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Abbott has been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes.
View Abbott's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: http://bit.ly/3RFd3HZ
Asahi
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
Based on the company's response to the CtA, it has published a policy on BMS marketing in 2020 in which it commits to not advertise or promote infant formula for infants under the age of 12 months in higher-risk countries. A preliminary assessment of the policy shows that the policy has several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code. To fully meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Asahi's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - extend globally to cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age in all markets - uphold the policy in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps.
Ask 3
The company appears to make the requested commitment.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Asahi has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes to date. It may be included in future Indexes.
Ask 1
The company’s commitment is not clear. It has not stated its intention to unilaterally implement the Code in full, for all products marketed as suitable for infants and young children from birth to 36 months of age, in all countries, by 2030. The company has presented a plan 'to achieve full compliance with the WHO Code', with a timeline till 2024, in which it outlines its intention to revise its policy by the end of 2023, but has not stated the nature of those revisions. Further clarification is needed about the scope of the company’s intentions, given the statements that its formulas for children 12 – 36 months as well as complementary foods for infants over 4 months are not considered BMS (in contradiction to WHO's definition of BMS). The company also indicated in its plan that adjustments may be made to its policy if there is 'no equal level of playing field in a specific country/region'.
Ausnutria submitted a roadmap in December 2020.
Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
Based on the company's response to the CtA, it stated putting a global policy in place in mid 2020 covering the marketing of its BMS products, which the company has indicated to be 'milk based formulas for infants from 0-6 months and for infants from 6-12 months'. This policy however has not yet been shared or found in the public domain. Based on the information available, to fully meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Ausnutria's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including formulas for special medical purposes) - uphold the policy in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps.
Ask 3
The company stated in its response to the CtA its commitment to 'support the adoption and implementation of national legislation or Codes' however to fully meet this request, the company would need to clarify that it will support legislation that is fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Ausnutria has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes to date. It may be included in future Indexes.
Ausnutria
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
The company states that it developed and implemented its own regulations related to BMS marketing. No policy on BMS marketing has been shared yet however, nor found in the public domain. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Feihe's policy would need to: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - extend globally to cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age in all markets - uphold the policy in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps.
Ask 3
The company states that it will 'push the government to speed up the legislative process so that the whole industry could be legally required to comply with the breast-milk substitutes marketing laws and regulations'. To fully meet this request, the company would need to clarify that it will support legislation that is fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company does not make the requested commitment. China Feihe has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Indexes.
View Feihe's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/4cbYHXP
China Feihe
Danone
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030. While Danone states its willingness to pursue full compliance with the Code globally by 2030 and sets out some steps it is willing to take, it does not commit to achieving unilateral compliance fully aligned with the WHO standards.
Danone submitted a roadmap in December 2020. However, the roadmap, in alignment with the response, does not outline a commitment to achieve full Code compliance by 2030.
Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
The company states in its response to the CtA that its published policy is global for formulas marketed as suitable for infants between 0-6 months of age and applies to BMS products marketed as suitable for infants between 6-12 months of age only in higher-risk countries. Further, the policy applies in all jurisdictions where laws and regulations are less stringent than its policy or absent. The findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024 confirm the aforementioned scope and application of Danone's BMS marketing policy. However, the policy excludes formulas for special medical purposes and Danone's policies and guidelines that address BMS marketing (including its Healthcare Systems Compliance Policy updated in 2022) were found to have some gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). The company's intention, as outlined in its response to the CtA and roadmap, on differentiating the product packaging to avoid cross-promotion was noted and welcomed, aligning with recommendation 5 of WHA 69.9 guidance. Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, Danone's policies and practices do not yet reflect this commitment as intended by the Code. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Danone's policy/relevant policies would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - extend globally for all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age, including formula for special medical purposes, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps.
Ask 3
Danone stated in its response to the CtA its willingness to take steps to "support the adoption and implementation of national legislation fully aligned with the Code" noting however that unilateral action alone is not sufficient and that the company would also need to take steps as part of an industry-wide move to pursue fully Code aligned legislation. Danone also reiterated both in its response to the CtA and in the roadmap that it will support and advocate for "restrictions on the marketing of products for 0-12 months as a new global regulatory standard”; an example of that is Danone's current advocacy in Australia to strengthen Code legislation and ensure enforcement mechanisms are in place.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Danone has been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes.
View Danone's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3VB5inA
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
The company shared in its response to the CtA its position and standards on responsible marketing of BMS (dated September 2020) which apply to its products intended for infants from birth to 12 months of age in the three countries that it sells in. A preliminary assessment shows the commitments have several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Fonterra's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - uphold the policy in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps.
Ask 3
Fonterra states that it 'currently supports, and will continue to support, the adoption and implementation of national Code legislation'. To fully meet this request, the company would need to clarify that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Fonterra has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes to date. It may be included in future Indexes.
Fonterra
FrieslandCampina
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
FrieslandCampina updated its BMS marketing policy in 2021. Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, the updated policy is upheld for formula intended for infants from birth up to 6 months of age, including formula for special medical purposes, globally. Where products are covered by national Code law (including formula intended for older infants and young children > 6 months of age, and complementary foods), the company's BMS marketing policy provisions also apply to these products. The company upholds the provisions of its policy if local regulations are absent or weaker. The improved scope and application of FrieslandCampina's revised BMS marketing policy is noted and welcomed. The policy however has some gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, FrieslandCampina's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - be upheld in marketing formula intended for infants older than 6 months of age, including formula for special medical purposes, in all markets irrespective of whether these products fall within the scope of local Code regulations
Ask 3
FrieslandCampina states that achieving a level playing field is essential and therefore they are 'committed to support national governments in creating such environments'. To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. FrieslandCampina has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Indexes.
View FrieslandCampina's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3RFEzoO
Ask 1
Although the company had not made this commitment in its initial response to the CtA, Glico later stated in its roadmap an explicit unilateral commitment to achieve full compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and all WHA resolutions globally, covering BMS 0-36 months. These commitments are welcomed and align with the first component of Ask 1 of the BMS Call to Action.
Glico submitted a roadmap in October 2021; however, the steps and timeline described are not concrete and specific about how the company plans to achieve full Code compliance by 2030. Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
Following the company's response to the CtA, it published a policy on BMS marketing in December 2023 in which it commits to marketing its formula products targeting infants up to “about twelve months of age” in compliance with local laws and respecting the WHO Code. A preliminary assessment of the policy shows that the policy covers some Code provisions such as refraining from "sales promotion activities targeting the general public" and including information on BMS product labels describing the superiority of breastfeeding and the safe and appropriate use of the products. The development and publication of Glico's first BMS marketing policy is welcomed as a first step toward full Code compliance. However, to fully meet Ask 2, Glico’s policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full, considering all settings where BMS marketing takes place - cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age in all markets, including formulas for special medical purposes - uphold the policy in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps - provide clarity and details on how the commitments are applied
Ask 3
The company commits to support the adoption and implementation of national legislation aligned with the Code. To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Glico has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes to date. It may be included in future Indexes.
Glico
H&H Group
Ask 1
While the company did not commit to full Code compliance in its initial response, it subsequently submitted a roadmap stating that it is committed to improving its practices "to achieve full compliance with the WHO Code and its subsequent resolutions". However, the plan shared by the company to achieve this goal does not explicitly outline the additional steps required to achieve full Code compliance, for example expanding the scope of the products covered by its BMS marketing policy, to include formula milk for young children 12-36 months. The company therefore does not fully meet the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030, pending further clarification from the company.
Health & Happiness submitted a roadmap on April 24, 2023. However, the roadmap, in alignment with the response, does not outline a clear and concrete commitment to achieve full Code compliance by 2030.
Ask 2
H&H Group published its revised BMS marketing policy in March 2023. Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, the updated policy covers all types of formulas for infants from 0-12 months globally and is upheld even where local regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy. The improved geographic and product scope of H&H's revised BMS marketing policy is noted and welcomed. The policy however has some gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, H&H Group's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full
Ask 3
The company states that it is supportive of legislation that creates a level playing field for all companies.To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. H&H Group has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024. View the company's Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/4eCI21e
HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
Based on the company's response to the CtA, HiPP stated the company will publish a BMS marketing policy in 2021 that is applicable to all countries where HiPP sells its products. Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, HiPP has internal guidelines for BMS marketing that were developed in 2018 and have not been published to date. The guidelines cover formula for infants up to six months of age (excluding formula for special medical purposes) globally and are upheld even where local regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy. The policy however has several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, HiPP's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including formulas for special medical purposes) in all markets.
Ask 3
The company does not make the requested commitments.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. HiPP has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024. View the company's Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3VyI01D
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group
Ask 1
No response to CtA.
Ask 2
Ask 3
Ask 4
The company has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Indexes. View Yili's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://accesstonutrition.org/index/bms-index-2024/scorecards/yili-2/
Kraft Heinz
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030. Although the company stated in its initial response to the CtA its commitment to full compliance with the Code by 2025, the steps outlined in its roadmap to achieving this goal clarified that Kraft Heinz's commitment is not aligned with achieving Code compliance fully aligned with the WHO standards (the company seems to exclude commitments relating to WHA 69.9 guidance and does not view formulas intended for young children 12-36 months of age as BMS, in contradiction to the definitions of the Code).
KraftHeinz submitted a roadmap in April 2021. However, the steps outlined in this roadmap clarified that Kraft Heinz does not commit to achieve full compliance with the Code in alignment with WHO standards. Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
Kraft Heinz stated that as a first step in line with the CtA, it published on September 16th 2020 its internal policy-charter of practice for BMS marketing that had already been adopted in all countries and for products marketed as suitable for infants between birth and 12 months of age. Based on the findings of ATNI's 2021 BMS/CF Marketing Index, Kraft Heinz's Global Charter on BMS marketing applies in all jurisdictions where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than its policy. However, the policy was found to have several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). The company's intention, as outlined in its roadmap, to revise its policy to more closely align with the Code is welcomed, along with the company's plan to implement changes to product packaging, labels and messaging that would avoid the cross-promotion of products and drive age-appropriate introduction of complementary foods (CF) from 6 months onwards instead of 4 months (CF for 0-6 months are defined by WHO as BMS products) - these changes would align with WHA 69.9 guidance and recommendations. Based on the findings of ATNI's CF Marketing Index 2024, Kraft Heinz's policies and practices do not yet reflect these commitments. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Kraft Heinz's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full
Ask 3
The company states its commitment to support the adoption and implementation of national legislation aligned with the Code. To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Kraft Heinz has been included in ATNI’s BMS and CF Marketing Indexes.
View Kraft Heinz's CF Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3VFY5CH
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
The company shared a plan of action in December 2021; however, the roadmap, in alignment with the response, does not outline a commitment to achieve full Code compliance by 2030. Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
Based on its response to the CtA, Lactalis committed to publishing a global Charter for the marketing of BMS by the end of 2021 and stated that it will become the basis of its policy in countries where the local regulations are less stringent. According to the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, no such policy was found in the public domain nor shared with ATNI. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Lactalis would need to develop this global policy and ensure that it: - covers all provisions of the Code in full - covers all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including formulas for special medical purposes) - is fully upheld in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps
Ask 3
The company does not make the requested commitments.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment.
Lactalis has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024. View the company's Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3REzvki
Lactalis
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
In its response to the CtA, the company stated its intention to adopt a BMS marketing policy; this policy was published in November 2021. A preliminary assessment shows that the policy has several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code, with some provisions only applied in higher-risk countries for BMS products marketed for infants from birth up to 12 months of age. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Megmilk Snow Brand's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including formulas for special medical purposes) in all markets - be fully upheld in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps
Ask 3
The company commits to support the adoption and implementation of relevant national legislation. To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment.
Megmilk Snow Brand has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes. It may be included in future Indexes.
Megmilk
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030. Although the company stated in its initial response to the CtA its commitment to full compliance with the WHO Code and WHA resolutions by 2030, the plan it shared to achieve this goal made it unclear if the company's commitment to achieve full Code compliance is unilateral, and further clarifications with Meiji suggested the commitment is not fully aligned with the CtA expectations in terms of the extent of the Code provisions covered.
The company shared a plan of action in December 2021; however, the steps and timeline described are not concrete and specific about how the company plans to achieve full Code compliance by 2030. Upon further clarification from the company, it was also determined that Meiji's commitment to full Code compliance does not fully align with the commitments requested by the CtA. Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
In its response to the CtA, Meiji stated having established a policy on BMS marketing in February 2020, and published it in March 2020. The policy applies to products marketed as suitable for infants between birth and six months of age in all markets where it does business, and for follow-on formula in higher risk countries. A preliminary assessment shows that the policy has several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Meiji's policy would need to additionally: - covers all provisions of the Code in full - covers all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including complementary foods intended for infants 0-6 months of age and formulas for special medical purposes) in all markets - be fully upheld in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps
Ask 3
The company does not make the requested commitments.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment.
Meiji has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes. It may be included in future Indexes.
Meiji Group
Mengniu Dairy
Ask 1
No response to CtA.
Ask 2
Ask 3
Ask 4
The company has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Indexes. View Mengniu's BMS/CF Marketing Index 2021 Scorecard here: https://accesstonutrition.org/app/uploads/2021/06/ATNI_Scorecard_Mengniu.pdf
Ask 1
While the company did not commit to full Code compliance in its intial response, it subsequently submitted a roadmap stating an explicit unilateral commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030 globally, covering BMS 0-36 months.
Morinaga submitted a roadmap in October 2021. However, the steps and timeline described are not concrete and specific about how the company plans to achieve full Code compliance by 2030. Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
In its response to the CtA, the company stated that it was preparing its policy on BMS marketing which became available in the public domain as of March 2021. The development and publication of Morinaga's first BMS marketing policy is welcomed as a first step toward full Code compliance. The findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024 show that the policy covers formula for infants 0-12 months (excluding formula for special medical purposes) only in higher-risk countries, and is upheld where local regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy. The policy has several gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Morinaga's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - extend globally for all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including formulas for special medical purposes) in all markets
Ask 3
The company does not make the requested commitment.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment.
Morinaga has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024. View the company's Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3xlP3mj
Morinaga
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
Nestlé submitted a roadmap in February 2021. However, the roadmap, in alignment with the response, does not outline a commitment to achieve full Code compliance by 2030. Click "Company Responses" in the navigation bar at the top of this page to read the roadmap and the signatories' evaluation of it.
Ask 2
Nestlé updated its BMS marketing policy in 2022. Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, the updated policy covers formula intended for infants from birth up to 6 months of age (excluding some formula for special medical purposes) globally and babies under 12 months in 163 countries- the company therefore meets its CtA commitment. The expanded scope of Nestlé's revised BMS marketing policy is noted and welcomed. Complementary foods intended for infants under 6 months of age, as well as formula intended for older infants between 6-12 months of age (excluding some formula for special medical purposes), are also covered by this policy but only for higher-risk countries. The policy is upheld in all jurisdictions where laws and regulations are absent or less stringent than the company policies, however some gaps in covering all the provisions of the Code were identified (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Nestlé's policy would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - cover all formulas for special medical purposes (see ATNI's BMS/CF Marketing Index 2021 for details on which FSMPs are already covered in Nestlé's policy) - extend to formula intended for older infants between 6 to 12 months of age, and complementary foods marketed as suitable for infants under 6 months of age, in all markets. The other commitments stated by the company in its response to the CtA and roadmap, including strengthening Nestlé’s policy and practices around lobbying and working with retailers and e-commerce players to encourage Code compliance, are also noted and welcomed.
Ask 3
The company states they will actively engage with stakeholders to encourage implementation of the WHO Code and subsequent relevant resolutions into national laws. Nestlé further specified its support in regulating the promotion of infant formula for babies aged 0-12 months globally. To fully meet this request, the company would need to support legislation fully aligned with the Code for all products 0-36 months.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Nestlé has been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes.
View Nestlé's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3znY26O
Nestlé S.A.
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
In its response to the CtA, the company stated its intention to publish its policy on BMS marketing by the end of 2020 to not market formula for infants under 12 months of age, and to implement it in all markets where its baby food products are sold, even where local laws and regulations are absent or less stringent than the company policy. This policy is now available in the public domain, dated December 15, 2020. A preliminary assessment shows that the policy has some gaps in terms of the Code provisions covered. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Wimm-Bill-Dann's policy (PepsiCo's subsidiary) would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full
Ask 3
Based on the company's updated response, the company makes the requested commitment.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment.
PepsiCo has not been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes.
PepsiCo
Progress JSC
Ask 1
No response to CtA.
Ask 2
Ask 3
Ask 4
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
Based on the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, Reckitt's (previously known as RB) policies on BMS marketing cover formulas intended for infants from birth up to 12 months of age (excluding some formulas for special medical purposes) only in higher-risk countries. The policies are upheld in all jurisdictions where laws and regulations are absent or less stringent than the company policies, however some gaps were identified in terms of the Code provisions covered (as reflected in its initial Corporate Profile score). To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Reckitt's policies would need to additionally: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - extend globally for all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age, irrespective of whether national governments enact the Code into law, and including all formulas for special medical purposes (see the company's ATNI BMS Index 2024 Scorecard for details on which FSMPs are already covered in Reckitt's policy)
Ask 3
Reckitt commits to engage national governments and other interested stakeholders to implement and monitor the WHO Code of 1981 and subsequent relevant WHA resolutions. To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company makes the requested commitment. Reckitt (previously called RB) has been included in ATNI’s BMS Marketing Indexes.
View Reckitt's BMS Marketing Index 2024 Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/3VE5a6x
Reckitt (formerly RB)
Ask 1
The company does not make the requested commitment to achieve full compliance with the Code by 2030.
No roadmap submitted to date.
Ask 2
In its response to the CtA, the company stated having policies in place on BMS marketing. According to the findings of ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024, no such policies were found in the public domain nor shared with ATNI. To meet the first step towards full Code compliance, Vinamilk would need to ensure that its policies on BMS marketing: - cover all provisions of the Code in full - cover all BMS products marketed as suitable for infants 0-12 months of age (including formulas for special medical purposes) in all markets - are fully upheld in all jurisdictions even where laws and regulations on BMS marketing are absent or less stringent than the company policy, and irrespective of whether its competitors take similar steps
Ask 3
Vinamilk states it is willing to support the adoption and implementation of national legislation aligned with the Code in order to create a level playing field for all companies. To fully meet this request, the company would need to add that it supports national legislation fully aligned with the Code.
Ask 4
The company does not make the requested commitments.
Vinamilk has been included in ATNI's BMS Marketing Index 2024. View the company's Scorecard here: https://bit.ly/4bjc5YS
Vinamilk
Ask 1
No response to CtA.