ILCA preceded LLLI in its decision not to accept funding from Medela once
its marketing practices of its bottles and teats were deemed
Code-non-compliant by NABA.  There was an article discussing ILCA's decision
in the February 2009 issue of eGlobe, the ILCA newsletter, and there will be
another article on this sizzingly-hot topic in the April 2009 issue offering
a more detailed explanation of how the marketing Medela currently uses does
not meet WHO Code standards.  ILCA members (aren't you ALL?) can access
these issues of eGlobe on-line at www.ilca.org

ILCA's decision was "set" in December 2008, after a process
formally commenced in April 2008, to create a conflict-of-interest-free
mechanism by which ILCA could determine vendors from whom it could accept
funding (in its journal JHL, and on the ILCA Confernce Exhibit Hall floor).
The ILCA by-laws -- its very governance lifeblood, if you will -- require
that the organization support the WHO Code, and not accept funds from
non-Code-compliant companies.  But I can tell you this topic has been
front-and-center for YEARS.  (ILCA by-laws can also be pulled up on the
website.)

So ILCA (and its Board, of which I am a happy member) has a fiduciary duty
-- a heightened fiscal and governance responsibility --to abide by the WHO
Code.  *On top of* the regular ol', run-of-the-mill, IBLCE Code of Ethics
requirement (Tenet 24) that all IBCLCs must follow.

And speaking of IBLCE -- their CERPs-provider packet makes clear the
long-standing position of our certifying organization:   "CERPs are
allocated only to programs that are intended as professional education for
IBCLCs, health professionals or breastfeeding counsellors.  [C]ERPs are *not
*approved for programs organized by individuals or companies that
manufacture, market or distribute products within the scope of the WHO
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (e.g. infant
formula, bottles or teats); nor for programs where these companies or
company personnel had input into the choice of presenters or topics or the
content of any presentation."
http://americas.iblce.org/documentsNEW/CERPProviderPacket.pdf

Does that mean a non-Code-compliant company can exhibit at a conference,
organized by a committee, which selected its own theme and topics?  Yes.
 (Unless you are ILCA, that is, whose by-laws would disallow such a
vendor).  But can a non-Code-compliant company host its own session, and
invite you to hear their speakers -- and award CERPs?  Nope.
-- 
Liz Brooks JD IBCLC
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

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