not one of the main infant milk formulas on sale in hong kong would meet proposed new packaging guidelines if it were introduced on 18 january. should the producers stay in the hong kong market after the changes, their packages should include at least two important warnings in specific sizes that will alert parents regarding the risks of using their products. milk formula manufacturers are asking the government to relax the voluntary requirements. these requirements are outlined in a draft code which is released for consultation. manufacturers are saying they oppose with some "fundamental aspects". however, officials say they are not backing down, in spite of increasing the duration of the consultation by two months. professor sophia chan siuchee is food and health bureau&rsquos undersecretary. sophia mentioned that there is no intent for the government to turn away from setting up the hong kong code. she further explained the extension till 28 february was to let the government to hear more opinions. regina tam chukching is marketing director of formula making company mead johnson. she said the regulations could be impractical. she further mentioned there are some fundamental aspects which they cannot agree. she believes that some manufacturers can only follow 80 per cent, and some can fulfill 90 per cent. a review done by the south china morning post showed that products of six companies, which account for above 70 per cent of the formula milk sold in hong kong were failing to complete one or both of two important requirements mentioned in the code that is intended to combat misleading marketing. according to the code, packaging of formula milk should contain warnings "could lead to diarrhea or other related risks", printed in words minimum 2cm high, and that parents have to "use hot water above 70 degrees celsius to mix the milk powder", declared in a display which is not less than 1.5cm high. the brands surveyed were nestlé, pfizerowned wyeth, danone, abbott nutrition, frieslandcampina, and mead johnson. even though, the code is voluntary, the government believes that big brands will not want to resist it for public relations reasons. however, the hong kong infant and young child nutrition association, which is formed by the six brands, made it clear that they would find it hard to incorporate the two warnings on packaging. abbott mentioned it was incorrect to put forward that all formula brands could lead diarrhea, because different substances are used in different formulas. in addition to that, too hot water might destroy advantages like probiotics, live microorganisms that may help digestion. dr robert scherpbier is a chief of health and nutrition for unicef china. he said the labeling was necessary. he said exaggerated advertisements often brainwash parents about the overstated effects of formulas, claiming they make babies smarter and healthier than breast milk. he supports the new voluntary code. however, he has also urged legislation to forbid such bad behavior. source of information httpwww.scmp.comnewshongkongarticle1129623citysmajorformulamilkbrandsfailme…
