Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 May 2017
210. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his Department and Healthy Ireland will implement the WHO international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes in full (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25268/17]
View answerMy Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) implement the World Health Organisation International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes. The Infant and Follow on Formulae regulations are enforced by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in partnership with the HSE Environmental Health Officers.
A key policy priority for Irish Government and the Irish health service is to increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life through the implementation of the Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland – A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 (Department of Health, 2013).
This involves addressing risk factors and promoting protective factors at every stage of life, including the period from the pre-natal stage and through childhood, to support health and wellbeing.
The HSE Healthy Ireland in the Health Services National Implementation Plan 2015 – 2017 has prioritised breastfeeding through the inclusion of key actions under the Policy Priority Programme Healthy Childhood.
Last year, the HSE published its plan to improve breastfeeding rates. Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 – 2021 sets out the priority areas to be addressed over the next 5 years to support more mothers in Ireland to breastfeed and to contribute to increases in breastfeeding rates. The HSE Action Plan includes a target of an annual 2% increase in breastfeeding duration rates between 2016 and 2021, exclusive and not exclusive.
