Gonneke,
Currently Medela are breaching the Code in Australia via their Australian
website (according to ICDC). We shall see if that changes. It seems from
discussions that people like Jenni have had with them that it may.
I think that this advertisement breaches the Code. It appears in essence to
be the same as that Australian website.
http://www.medela.nl/BENELUX/nl/breastfeeding/products/bottles.php
It is my understanding that "Feeding bottles" with or without teats are a
breach of the Code.
I don't see anyone demonising anyone, any company or any product. It's about
marketing. If marketing breaches the International Code then it is
unethical. Various organisations have policies that say that they will not
work with companies that breach the Code. Up until this point Medela are a
company that many of us have worked with. We know the products, we know the
reps, we've eaten their chocolates and taken sample bags at conferences.
That's why it's a big deal. There are obviously many, many companies that
are more unethical in marketing. I don't need to name them. It's no shock to
any of us but Medela is a shock to many. If saying that marketing that
breaches the Code is unethical is demonisation I do not know what we are
coming to!

As I have said before, the Code is a minimum standard not an ideal. When it
comes to the Code, companies are breaching it or they are not. To say
otherwise IMO is like saying that someone is a little bit pregnant!
Karleen Gribble
Australia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "gonneke van veldhuizen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 8:39 PM
Subject: Re: Medela Code compliant or not


> Dear friends,
> I have been thinking a lot about the Medela issue in the last few days. I
am tending to the view that this Medela being or not being Code compliant
may well be an issue of The USA being or not being Code compliant. I
hear/read about Australia - no marketing for bottles and teats, and I known
the European situation - no marketing either. Please do visit Medela Benelux
(Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg) at
<http://www.medela.nl/BENELUX/nl/breastfeeding/index.php?navid=11> and tell
me where they are even mentioning teats. Even if you do not read Dutch, you
can browse and look at pictures and search. Not even the ''accessories'' or
the ''special equipment'' show normal teats nor are they discussed, let
alone marketed. They don't even mention they have them.

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome