You can read IBLCE's entire statement on line at 
http://www.iblce.org/documentsNEW/CommSponStatement_06.23.09.pdf

A company that manufactures or sells products falling within the scope of
the WHO Code will no longer be able to offer IBLCE-CERPs to participants at
'educational' events they sponsor.  It doesn't matter whether they abide by
the Code or not, it is that any 'educational' relationship between IBCLCs
and such commercial entities has now been deemed incapable of qualifying for
CERPs.  Continuing education for IBCLCs will have to be given by entities
not involved in the manufacture or sale of products covered by the Code.

As we have been reminded many times, breast pumps are not among such
products.  The new IBLCE policy states that IBLCE will continue to consider
CERP applications from other commercial entities on a case by case basis,
and they have a stated aim of making a policy taking into account the
thoughts put forth in a number of newer articles about conflict of interest
resulting from health care providers allying themselves with commercial
entities of all kinds. There is a reference list following the statement you
can read at the URL given above.

To my mind, it is this last bit that is really important, because it means
IBLCE will be looking at the problematic aspects of pump companies or nipple
cream companies or breastfeeding pillow companies providing continuing
education for IBCLCs to use to satisfy IBLCE's own CERP requirements,
whether or not the companies market feeding bottles inappropriately.  I'm
pleased that IBLCE is not merely looking critically at its relationship to
manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes and feeding bottles and teats
(anything else would be madness), but also to manufacturers of products that
sell more when breastfeeding isn't working.

For some reason I thought IBLCE had *always* had a ban on awarding CERPs for
educational activities sponsored by companies that market products under the
scope of the WHO Code, and I am sure I read something to that effect in an
IBLCE document when we first started discussing Medela's change in marketing
strategy/policy, which put the whole discussion in a truly bizarre light for
me, but danged if I can find it now. 

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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