ACCC to looks to tighten infant formula ad loophole The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is proposing to re-authorize a long-standing agreement by manufacturers to not promote infant formula, in order to protect rates of breastfeeding.
However, the ACCC’s draft determination also notes concerns the public benefits of the agreement may be being reduced by toddler milk advertising.
The “Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula: Manufacturers and Importers Agreement” (MAIF Agreement) is a voluntary agreement that restricts the advertising and promotion of infant formula by manufacturers and importers directly to the public, and limits their contact with health care professionals.
US government and EU announce separate major funding for cocoa sustainability in West Africa By Anthony Myers Following reports of serious issues in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana’s cocoa supply chains, the EU and the US Labor Department have both announced financial aid to help the two countries.
The independent research organisation, affiliated with the University of Chicago, revealed that child labour in the two countries remains a significant problem, in the study which was also co-funded by the Department of Labor.
Save the Children and Winrock International will each be awarded $4m grants for cooperative agreements to implement technical assistance projects. Both organisations will work to reduce child labour in these countries’ cocoa supply chains by enhancing cocoa cooperatives’ capacity to monitor child labour and provide greater support to households with children at risk of child labour.
Responsible design of supply and value chains and sustainability are important issues for the German confectionery industry, as it calls again for EU-wide legislation.
The organisation representing German confectionery manufactures has said it welcomes the government’s agreement on a practical approach to a supply chain law - but has reiterated its demands for a uniform European initiative.
The Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) said German companies are already playing a leading role worldwide, using 72% cocoa and over 90% palm oil, which are certified according to sustainability standards.
Certification standards
It said it welcomes the German government s agreement on a practical approach to a supply chain law using certification standards set by Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance, with their strict requirements for the prevention of abusive child labour.
Isigny Sainte-Mère Dairy Cooperative receives accreditation for infant formula milk powder testing laboratory The Isigny Sainte-Mère milk powder testing laboratory in France has recently received COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation.
This standard, rarely obtained for an infant milk testing laboratory, is issued by the COFRAC (French Accreditation Committee), the only reference accreditation body in France. It validates and guarantees the cooperative’s high level of technical competence.
Every year, Isigny Sainte-Mère produces a large quantity of infant milk powders. Due to the sensitive nature of infants, the quality of these food products needs to be faultless, the cooperative said.
The European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability has the potential to set an example to the world if concrete actions and legislative proposals build it out into something meaningful over the coming years, says the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).