Caribbean - IBFAN

Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2004 HIPP
� Article 7.3 provides that there should be no financial or
material inducement, to promote products within the scope of
the Code.
� Article 7.4 allows samples to health workers but only for
research purposes. Health workers may not pass on any
samples.
� In Latvia and Lithuania, Hipp
gives health facilities clocks,
cups, writing pads, sweets and
magazines showing the “Hipp
Bio” logo and
Hipp ball-point
pens.�
� In Georgia Hipp gives writing pads to health workers
and Hipp booklets on infant feeding to health workers
and the public. They contain statements such as:
“Use Hipp Pre for infants when mother’s milk is not
enough.”�
� Feeding bottles in a package
which advertises Hipp
formulas are included in a
gift pack for mothers in hospitals
in Germany, together
with a booklet from Hipp.�
� Doctors in Armenia
earn a commission
on prescriptions for Hipp products; all they need to
do is fill in their name, workplace and signature on
special Hipp prescription forms.
� Breastfeeding poster
with HiPP logo found
on wall of paediatric
polyclinic
in Armenia.�
� Hipp distributes promotional materials such as
booklets and calendars for display at health facilities
in Armenia, promoting Hipp products for
use from as early as the first week of life. Car
stickers and pens with the Hipp name and logo
are given to health workers.�
IBFAN -- International Baby Food Action Network
Labelling
� WHA Resolution 54.2 (2001) advises exclusive breastfeeding
for 6 months which means that the recommended age
for use of complementary foods cannot be under 6 months.
� Hipp baby tea labels in Lithuania show a bottle and
recommend use of the product from the first week.
� In Armenia Hipp juice labels recommend use from
three months; porridges, vegetable, fruit and meat
purees from four months.
� The label of Hipp Pre in Lithuania states that the
product is “…good for supplementing when
breastfeeding”.
� In Germany Hipp
infant meal labels
recommend the
product for use
“after five months
instead of a bottle
meal”.
� Hipp infant formula labels in Switzerland undermine
mothers’ confidence in breastfeeding with statements
such as “If you can’t breastfeed or if you can’t do it
any longer, you can use Hipp1 from the first bottle”.
The label recommends
the use of follow-up
formula after
four months.The labels
of Hipp 1 and 2
look alike and can
confuse mothers.
Misleading text and pictures which
violate the Code
� Article 4.2 requires all information
material to advocate for breastfeeding
and not contain pictures or text which
idealises the use of breastmilk substitutes.
� In Latvia, Hipp distributes
promotional materials to
mothers. Among them
are a booklet and a
daisy-shaped
leaflet which
advertise a full
range of products
under the
Hipp Bio range.
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