Updated at 18:30 Hrs - 5th May, 2003

Lok Sabha passes bill to prohibit infant milk substitute

In a bid to encourage breastfeeding, Lok Sabha today passed a bill seeking to prohibit all forms of advertisement and promotion of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods.

The infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2002, aims at prohibiting all forms of advertising and promotion - light, sound, smoke or gas or by means of electronic transmission in relation to infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods.

In his reply to a debate on the bill, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said serious action would be taken against companies violating the law. Joshi said government was sensitive to the issue and has addressed them under women and child development schemes.

(PTI)