Amend IMS Act: Ministry

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries proposes to recommend to the concerned Group of Ministers not to repeal the Infant Milk Substitutes Act, but only amend it.

The Ministry stated this in a letter to the NHRC, which had expressed concern over the reported moves to repeal the law, saying it was a special Act to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, the Commission said in a release here on Thursday.

The Commission had written to the Ministry against the reported repeal of the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act (IMS Act) as proposed by its inclusion in Schedule 1 of the Food Safety and Standards Bill 2005.

The Ministry informed NHRC it would make the recommendation on non-repeal of the Act after obtaining advice from the Law Ministry, the Commission stated.

However, allaying apprehensions that the repeal of the Act will lead to unethical marketing and promotional practices which denigrate mother''s milk, the Ministry said in its letter dated February 24 that a well-drafted regulation under the proposed Bill would more than take care of the concern.

NHRC had stated in its communication that the Act was not a routine food law but focused on marketing and other practices which interfere with breastfeeding and thereby jeopardize the well-being of baby and mother.

The Commission has also requested the Ministry to send the Bill, when finalised, to it for its perusal and comments as the rights of children are involved.