1 
 A draft to update the 
Executives Regulations  (rules and decision) of the code  
  for marketing  breast milk  substitutes  
 Under article M 1/26L of the Executives Regulations of the code  for marketing 
breast milk substitutes  which stat ed that : The Minister re serves the right of 
issuing the required  modification of th e executive regulations . 
A committee was formed to review and update the e xecutives regulations of 
the code  for marketing breast milk substitutes . Resolution No. 3749 dated 25 -
3-1435h  
M 1/2 L  
The Minister constitutes a national committee for the promotion and pro tection 
of breastfeeding  in the Kingdom of the  following  Ministries and agencies 
(Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of 
Islamic Affairs and Endo wments, Ministry of Culture and Media , and the Saudi 
Food and Drug Authority ) to develop plans that ensure the application of the 
executive regulations and other procedures necessary to pr otect and promote 
breastfeeding. The  Minister can add who is deemed necessary.   
M 2/2 L  
The Directors  of Health Affairs Directorates - or similar agencies (in other than 
MOH health institutes)  constitutes  a local committee for the pro motion and 
protection of breastfeeding in the lines of the National Committee for the 
appl ication of the  code and the executive regulations and decisions  beside 
applying the instructions  of the national coordinator of the  breastfeeding  
promotion  program to all health sectors.  
M 2/3 L  
Ensure the proper use of breast  milk substitutes when require d for premature  
baby, infants  and young children requested  by a specialist doctor and are 
provided in the facilities and health institutes  that deal with motherhood and 
childhood , through  official channels  according to the Article 14.   
 
M 3/1 L:  
Prohibit   advertising of breast  milk substitutes and supplementary food  assigned 
to premature infants, babies and young children  feeding  from birth until the age 
of 3 years and other related products include the following s: 
(A) Infant formula from birth to 12 mont hs. 
(B) Growth milk, follow -up milk or any other named  products for age  group  12 2 
 months to 36 months that marketed , as suitable for feeding infants and young 
children.  
(C) Pacifiers and feeding bottles made of glass or other.  
(D) Other related tools and deices  (milk suction devices,  the nipples  cover, etc ). 
(E) Supplementary food  items . 
(F)  Water used to prepar e baby formula.  
(G) Any other liquids such as herbal tea, juice or any product (s) marketed or 
labeled as suitable for children under the age of 36  months.  
M 3/2 L  
Local manufacturers, producers and importers of  breast milk substitutes and 
complementary foods must  comply with the Saudi Standards  approved by the 
Saudi  Food and Drug Authority  (SFDA).  
M 3/3 L  
local committees and similar bodies publiciz e intensively the code and executive  
regulation s for all employees of the program  by issuing me mos, holding training 
courses and prepare educational materials concerning the code and executive 
regulations . 
 
M 3/4l  
The National Coordinator  should translate  the code and executive regulations in  
English language. The Arabic text is the main reference  .  
  
M 4/1 L  
The National Coordinator co nstitute a consultative committee of specialists in 
the field of breast -feeding and infants and young children feeding to  review and 
adopt the information  and educational materials that mentioned in Article 4.   
 M 4/2 L  
Information  and educational materials   that (required  revision) of health 
institutions and the Ministry of Health and other sectors to be raised (referred) 
through local committees or similar agencies in directorate or  the provinces and 
regions to  the National Coordinator for approval.  
 
 M 4/3 L  : 
Educational and informational (media)  materials include the following:  
1. The benefit of breastfeeding in general  and exclusive breastfeeding  until the 
age of 6 months, introduction of complementary feeding starts after this time 
with continued breastfeeding until the end of the two years of the  age . 
2. Maternal  nutrition and how to prepare to and continue breastfee ding .  
3. The importance  to start teaching mothers to begin breastfeeding immediately 
after birth (within the first hour).  
4. To clarify  reasons  for  prevent ing the use of pacifiers and industrial nipples and 3 
 their damage.  
5. The difficulty of the decision  not to breastfeed.  
6. proper use of industrial milk, if necessary, whether it is a homemade or 
industrial.  
7.Explain the importance to start complementary foods after six months  of age 
and how to start it.  
8. How to feed an infant using a cup, a spoon or other.  
9. Explain the negative impact of the introduction of artificial feeding or any 
supplementary food before the end of the sixth month of life on breastfeeding 
and their impact on reduce the milk yield.  
10. Statement of preference  for complementary fo od preparation at home using 
materials that are available to the family in a safe manner . 
When these materials contain information about the use of infant formula 
should include:  
1. Social, health, economic, psychological and environmental impacts of use i t . 
2. the health hazards of foods or feeding inappropriate methods.  
3. health risks resulting from the unnecessary or improper use of industrial milk 
and other breast milk substitutes  
These materials should not contain any pictures or texts inspire ideali sm of using  
breast milk substitutes.  
M 5/1 L  
Its prohibited directly or indirectly Advertising and promot ing or the distribution 
of free samples, gift s or tool s encouraged the use of products contained in the m 
3/1 by producers and suppliers and marketers  of infant formula and baby food 
and other - in health care institutions , pharmacies , public places , educational 
institutions and other various ways for individual or groups interviews or 
distribution of the means of communication or provide brochures and  other 
methods.  
  
M 5/2 L:  
Prohibits for the  produced and supplied or the marketer  companies for breast 
milk substitutes  to support the establishment of any educational Or entertaining  
activities.  
 
M 5/3 L : 
Its prevent ed, direct or indirect contact betwe en parents and workers of 
producing companies or supplied or marketed products which covered by the 
scope of this system.  
 
 4 
 M 6/1 L : 
Required for the distribution of scientific literature prepared by the producers, 
suppliers and marketers of the products c ontained in the m 3/1 pre -approved by 
the National Coordinator of the program to encourage breastfeeding and limited 
to the built -up scientific truth on the evidence and the published scientific 
evidence from organizations and health authorities Internatio nal with confirming 
the breastfeeding advantage and the Benefits For infant.  
M 7/1 L  
The publication and broadcast ing of programs for  promotion of breastfeeding   
through audio, visual and print ,  which in line to the  Code and its Executive 
Regulations  
M 7/2 L:  
Panning  of advertising or publicity for the products mention ed in the  article 
M3/1  either through audio, print and visual materials or in any advertising or 
educational material, or by means of modern technology  or smart devices . 
M 7/3 L  : 
The a doption of educational materials will be through  the Advisory Committee of 
the breastfeeding promotion program mentioned in article M 4/1  
 
M8/ 1L  The National Committee coordinate with the government sectors 
mentioned in article M2 /1 L to disseminat e the information related to this code  
according to their specialties and follow -up and evaluate  of the actions taken by 
these sectors.  
M 8/2 L    
The health scientific information related to the code will be adopted by the 
National Coordinator of the breastfeeding promotion program . 
 
M 9/1 L:  
The  governmental and private health institutions are prohibited from employing 
(paid or unpaid)  workers of any companies whether manufacturing or importing 
or distributing the breast milk substitutes mentioned in article M  3/1 L. 
M 9/2 L:   
The health care workers of( government or private  health  institutions ) are 
prohibited  to work at any companies whether manufacturing or importing or 
distributing the breast milk substitutes , whatever paid or unpaid  job.  
 
M 10/1 L:  
Without p rejudice to the provisions of technical regulations and standards 
approved , and  according to the article ten the products label mentioned in 
article M/l1L   the following data in a clear and non -removable and easy to read in 5 
 Arabic and English as follows:  
1. Statement  Important Note or  it is equivalent.  
2. Clear Statement illustrated the singularity and benefit of breastfeeding . 
3. A statement illustrated that the product only used by the advice of a 
doctor or specialists in the field of infant nutrition, when neede d and the 
statement should illustrated how to use the product.  
4. Notes how to prepare and warning   about health risks that result from 
incorrect preparation.  
5. Warning that the product is  unsterile and susceptible to contamination 
during manufacturing, proces sing, and preparation.  
6. Product name (should explain  the nature of the specific food and not 
generalized  
7. Statement or notice by  the following:  
A. The list of ingredients  
B. Food Composition  
C. Nutritional value  
D. The required storage conditions  
E. Batch Number and date o f production and expiry date, in direct 
manner and clear .  
         
M 11/1 L:  
Products mentioned in article M 3/1 L must be agreed or congruous  to the 
approved Saudi or Gulf technical regulations and standards   
M 12/1 L : 
The health institutions (government / private) are  committed to train their  
health workers in the field of maternal and child care . Training course curriculum 
approved by the National Coordinator of the  breast feeding promotion  program   
 
 M 12/2 L   
The Saudi Commission for Health Specialti es should bind health practitioners In 
the field of maternal and child care to a Accredited training curriculum  (CME/PD ) 
as a continuous education for maternal and child care medical staff.  
M 12/3 L:  
 Health -care institutions must  do follows:  
1. Health a wareness  specially pregnant and lactating women . The education 
program include awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding , the risks of artificial 
feeding ,  the importance of skin to skin contact between mother and newborn  
immediately after birth ,  impor tance and necessity of  practice  rooming  in (allow  
mother and the infants to remain together throughout  the day), the right 
positions for breastfeeding,  benefits  of early start breastfeeding immediately 6 
 after birth , how to squeeze milk from the  breast (suction)   and the storage of 
milk . 
2. Development a job under the name of (breastfeeding consultant or adviser) 
through  coordination with the concern  authorities  . The appropriate  
qualification  approved by the National Coordinator of the breast feeding 
promotion  program . The breastfeeding consultant should help mothers to 
overcome the difficulties facing the lactating women.  
Foster the establishment of breast feeding support group  in and out health 
institution.  
3. Take appropriate and safe measures to en sure the continuity of the breast 
feed for sick mothers or those accompanying another sick child.   
 
M 13/1 L  
Prohibit  the governmental and private health institutions receive free samples or 
buy reduced samples less than the wholesale price identifier or l ess than 80% of 
the retail price of the products  mentioned in article M 3\1L. 
 
M 13/2 L  
The purchasing of products mentioned in article M3 \1L only through Medical 
Supply Directorate at the ministry or  other concerned department . To be 
prescribe b y concern d octor p rescription , through o fficial channels approved by 
the Medical Supply for hospitals when  need.  
M 14/1 L  
Medical Supply at ministry of health and other sectors concerned must be 
committed to establish a mechanism to accept the free samples and contro ls of 
the products mentioned in article M3 \1L. It should not be inconsistent with the 
code  and the regulations , for patients mentioned in appendix(1) and  presented 
to the national committee for approval.  
 
M 15 /1L  
 The health care institutions must be com mitted that all the health workers in 
the fi eld of maternity and childhood  such as doctors,  nurses , midwives , 
dieticians , social workers or specialists and health educators and others to have 
the appropriate qualification for taking the measures mentioned  in article M 12 \ 
2's to provide appropriate advice.   
  
M 16/1 L   
The  health workers and members of their families  were prohibited to  request or 
accept any cash  or any gift  from producers or suppliers or distributors of the 
products mentioned in article  M3\1L 7 
  
M 17/1L  
The health care institutions staff were prohibited to  accept  benefit or 
contributions may be given to him  or her  by  marketing or  supplier companies of  
 products mentioned in article M3 \1L  such as attending conferences or courses 
or sch olarships , except upon the written approval from his work  and  the local 
committee or similar bodies (committee, department…)  of other health sectors.  
M 18/1 L   
It is prohibited for  non-health workers to explain how to prepare breast milk 
substitutes . The  explanation   should  be limited the mothers a nd members of 
families who need the product(s). The information provided should be 
individually and not with group as mentioned in appendix (1) e. The information 
should be clear  and include explanation  the dan gers of improper use of these 
products . 
 
M 19/1 L  
The Minister of Health issue a decision to form a committee to resolve the 
dispute arising from violation of the code  
after  coordination with both the Minister of Justice and Minister of Trade and 
Industry to nominate their candidates in the Committee and upon renewal and 
replacement of membership . One of its members should be legal official adviser 
and the membership duration  committee is five years.  
 
M 19/5L  
Committee should work according to the followin g procedures:  
A). The Committee hold its meeting or session in the  related directorate and the 
meeting considered as legal if either the chief of the commi ttee or the vice-
president and the legal  adviser were attending the meeting. The meeting 
considered l egal only if their members not be less than three and shall issue its 
decisions by an absolute majority.  
B). The c ommi ttee shall adhere in its tasks to perform the required investigation 
and inform the related personnel and listen to the violator  and achie ve defenses . 
It shall take down its tasks in written minutes.  
C). The pertinent persons shall be informed in writing to appear before the 
committee in the time and at the place specified by the committee. Consider 
adding an appropriate period upon specifyi ng the appointments, if the 
attendance needs moving from city to another city  
D). When the date decided and the violator or his/her authorized representative 
do not attend, the session shall be rescheduled for another date within no less 
than thirty days. In case the violator or his her authorized representative does 8 
 not attend the second appointment, the committee shall decide in the violation  
and adjudicated. 
E). The committee submits its decision to the Health Minister or his/her duly 
authorized represen tative for approval. Interested parties shall be informed 
about the approved decision of the committee within thirty days.  
F). Directors of the Health Affairs Directorates  and equivalent personnel (in other 
health sectors such as military, national guard hospitals and medical cities..ect),  
formulate  committees to inspect  the violation  in health care institutions and 
pharmacies and  record the violations  to be lifted to the director of health affair 
in the region and to referred to the Committee in a perio d not exceeding two 
weeks from the date of the violation.  
 
G). C ommittee staff jointly or individually , should do the following : 
1 . Received and i nvestigat e the violations , collection of the evidence s and 
evaluat e them . Follow all legal procedures to esta blish the violation,  and where 
the violation happened . 
2 . Receive reports  of violation  and complaints, record  it and prepare minutes 
includes the place and time of the viola tion, and full details of the person who 
reported the violation ( name, address and  telephone number ). Also the names of 
the persons  who violate  and where the violation happened. D escrib e the 
violation in details with t he evidence submitted with the complaint . 
3. Go to the violation  site or place and check the violations and keep mater ials  
as evidence if found.  
4. Inspect  all establishments and shops where violation may occur an example:  
 Entry to  facilities and shops sites, and identify the violators  names and 
addresses etc.  Adjust the testimony of witnesses, and hear the statements of the 
violators , without the need to take permission from any other authority to adjust 
the violation.  
H). The committee shall submit to the Minister or his authorized representative  
for approval of  the decisions (proposed resolution)  and returned to the 
commi ttee. A ppeal  allowed  within sixty days from the date of notification by 
the Board of Grievances.  
I).  The committee should give the violators  (members / agent / representative of 
health and private institutions) the committee 's decision after the ac creditation 
In case the violator (person / agent or legal representative) not attended to 
receive the decision . Committee  inform the employer company or his legal 
representative in less than thirty days of the adoption of the decision (resolution)  
and in th e case of non -receipt  the decision will be effective.  
J) The Committee should follow the implementation of decisions (resolution) . 
K). The  financial penalties should be deposit in the Ministry of Health  Account  for 9 
 the benefit of breastfeeding promoting pr ogram.  
Give the  person who reported the violation ( Complainant)  after verification  5% 
of the value of the violation s. 
 
M 25/1L  
The committee mentioned in article M19 of the code should investigate the 
Ministry's employees  violators of the fifth , ninth , thirteenth , fifteenth ,  
sixteenth ,  seventeenth and eighteenth articles of the  code , shall be punished 
according to the provisions of  Employee D isciplin ary Code or  system  
M 25/3L  
The committee shall submit to the Minister the appropriate proposed decision 
(resolution ) and all violation documents included in the activities of the 
personnel in order to approve the decision or to select other  punishment more 
suitable,  or transfer to the Observation and Investigation Authority, if the 
violation requires the pun ishment of dismissal.  
  
 
References:  
1. International Code for the trading of breast milk substitutes  1981.  
2. Subsequent resolutions or decision s of International Code for the trading 
of breast milk substitutes . 
3. The international strategy of the infants and yo ung children nutrition 
2006.