I am writing in my capacity as the community representative on APMAIF (Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula). This is the body which monitors the WHO Code in Australia. Last week, at our request, the Minister for Consumer Affairs issued a Media Release which said in part: "I call on "Mead Johnson to honour the agreement which it has signed and ensure that marketing claims are accurate, honest and provide health professionals and consumers with real information. This type of unsubstantiated promotional claim is unethical. Infant formula companies should not be playing with the health and development of babies for commercial benefit. .........Mead Johnson was making claims about the quality of its product without the scientific evidence to support such statements and in direct conflict with the scientific evidence currently available about human ingestion of fatty acids." One of the sanctions available to APMAIF is to ask the Minister to publicise companies which are breaching the Code as it is implemented in Australia, but this is the first time a media statement has been issued. These breaches arose out of a series of glossy brochures, which played lullabies when opened, which were sent to child health nurses throughout Australia. The company had previously been warned over similar unscientific claims about its products. Anyone who would like the full text of the Media Release faxed to them is welcome to e-mail me with their fax number. As a Media Release, it can of course be used or quoted from without having to seek permission. Ros Escott APMAIF Community Representative <[log in to unmask]> Ros Escott [log in to unmask] Phone +61 02 23 6398 Fax +61 02 24 1398 298 Davey Street South Hobart TAS 7004 Australia