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Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (May 2):
Question:
On the promotion of breast-feeding of babies, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers and percentages of babies born in private and public hospitals each year from 2000 to 2006
(i) who were breast-fed before their discharge from hospitals, and
(ii) who continued to be breast-fed for four to six months afterwards;
(b) of the measures in place to monitor the advertisement claims for breast milk substitutes (including milk powder formulae for new-born babies and those for older babies) to see if they contain misrepresentations or misleading statements; the number of relevant complaints received by the Government in the past three years, and the follow-up actions taken;
(c) of the number of samples of breast milk substitutes taken in the past three years by the relevant government departments for laboratory tests on their nutrient components, and whether the nutrient components of any of these samples were found to be inconsistent with those stated in the advertisement claims or product labels; if so, of the follow-up actions taken; and
(d) of the new measures to promote breast-feeding of babies, and the criteria adopted for assessing the effectiveness of these measures?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) (i) Public and private hospitals in Hong Kong make regular reports on the percentage of discharged babies who had been breastfed to the Department of Health (DH). These reports show that the percentage increased from 55.3% in 2000 to 69.6% in 2006. Details are shown in Annex 1.
(ii) In addition, the DH conducts regular breastfeeding surveys in its Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs). Between the years 2000 and 2004(*), the percentage of babies breastfed continuously for 4 months and 6 months increased from 19% to 25% and from 14% to 17% respectively. Details are shown in Annex 2.
(b) According to section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), it is an offence for any person to give or display with any food or drug on sale a label which falsely describes the food or drug, or is calculated to mislead as to the nature, substance or quality of the food or drug. Moreover, it is unlawful for any person to publish, or be a party to the publication of, an advertisement of any food or drug with false descriptions. These provisions are applicable to any food for human consumption and also to infant formula.
In the past three years, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) received one complaint about an advertisement on infant formula. After investigation, the FEHD issued a written warning to the agent concerned. Besides, the DH and the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) received one complaint about the claims made in respect of a breast milk substitute, and the TELA is taking follow-up action on that complaint. The DH has also issued letters to all milk powder dealers in Hong Kong, reminding them to ensure that proper promotion tactics are used for their breast milk substitutes.
(c) In the past three years, some 400 samples of infant formula were taken by the FEHD for chemical and microbiological tests and the findings were satisfactory. The FEHD has not conducted any laboratory tests specifically on the nutritional content of the breast milk substitutes.
(d) The DH has been committed to promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding. It has also formulated a Breastfeeding Policy that encourages and supports mothers to breastfeed their babies through different means, including making more mothers and their family members aware of the benefits of breastfeeding through publicity and education; provision of training to nurses and medical practitioners of MCHCs so as to equip them with proper knowledge and skills to counsel mothers on breastfeeding; setting up support groups for mothers to share their experience on breastfeeding; and offering proper assistance and advice to mothers encountering difficulties in breastfeeding through the Breastfeeding Hotline. In recent years, there is a rising trend of breastfeeding in Hong Kong, which shows that the efforts of the DH, Hospital Authority and other stakeholders in promoting breastfeeding are paying off to a certain extent. The DH will keep up its efforts in implementing relevant initiatives in a bid to encourage more mothers to choose breastfeeding.
(*) Notes: The breastfeeding survey has been conducted by the DH every two years since 2002. The percentage of breastfed babies born in 2006 will only be available upon completion of the survey to be conducted in the middle of this year.
Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:44
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