Veronica,
You asked, " shouldn't patented breastmilk components eventually be mentioned
in the WHO Code?"

I don't think so but then I am not a lawyer or an expert in the area of the
Code and its implications.  I think the WHO Code, if followed, would keep this
situation under control.   But the US does not follow the WHO Code. I consider
the principle issue that the US has a problem with is, "no advertising of
breast-milk substitutes to the public."  This isn't happening in the USA, land of
advertising heaven.  In fact I was in Wal Mart yesterday and there was a
public announcement about breastfeeding which at first I didn't catch.  It was a
public advertisement about Similac being just like breastmilk.  I am sure this
advertisement is being broadcast in many of these stores and it  makes me
think of subliminal messages.  When you are shopping, you aren't really paying
attention to public announcements.  Yet it certainly is registering in your
brain. It took me hearing that public announcement a second time to realize that
they weren't announcing support of breastfeeding (I must have been daydreaming).

You asked, "Has this issue and how it affects the marketing of substitutes
been addressed by the Wh Assembly?"  I don't know.  I assume that it hasn't been
addressed.  And as far as it being addressed in the future, I really don't
know.

You ask, "What will happen when something very close to breastmilk comes from
a goat, or a cow, with the "right" amount of DHA, ARA, lactoferrin,etc?"

Sorry to have to tell you the bad news--already happening.  Milk lactoferrin
has already been given GRAS status by the FDA.  Milk lactoferrin is the result
of animal transgenics splicing the human gene for lactoferrin into the embryo
of cows.  Lactoferrin is added to infant formulas in Japan and other
countries and has been for some time.  Snowbrand Milk Products which is partnered with
Nestle of Japan has the patent on lactoferrin the real thing and the
recombinant to inactivate hiv/aids. (for use in infant formulas, among other products)
 Lactoferrin made from cell or yeast cultures has not yet been given GRAS
status.  I do believe the process for getting FDA GRAS status for this other
genetically engineered form of  human lactoferrin has been started.

You asked, "Shouldn't we be talking about this now?"  Yes.  Whether
breastfeeding organizations want to or not,  they will have to deal with this
situation.  It is the irony of ironies that IBCLCs will now be required to respect
intellectual property rights (patenting being a major part of intellectual
property rights).  This tenet seems to me to benefit US members over the
international community.  Patenting benefits the wealthier, developed nations over the
poorer, undeveloped nations.  Patents on life and gene constructs create ethical
and moral questions that are not easily resolved among people.  If we are
truly an "international" health care profession, then this is a tenet that should
not be part of a professional code of ethics.   It is economically beneficial
to one particular country and its medical and scientific community.  And this
patenting is so obviously detrimental to the promotion of breastfeeding
throughout the world.
Valerie W. McClain, breastfeeding advocate

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

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html