As of 24 April 2020, manufacturers and importers of baby food and infant milk have to comply with the provisions set out by Law on Supporting Breastfeeding and Requirements for Baby and Infant Food. Some provisions of this law also apply to baby and infant food advertisers.
The document introduces a number of requirements and restrictions applicable to baby food and its producers.
The law sets out the following requirements applicable to advertising of infant milk and baby food:
- prohibition to advertise breast-milk substitute products;
- any information on breast-milk substitute products should contain advise on the benefits and superiority of breast milk, as well as the need for a child to stay exclusively on breastfeeding for up to 6 months without the use of other food and drink in the infant’s diet, including water;
- advertising of complementary foods included into the diet of a child during his first year of life should contain information on age restrictions for the use of such products and a warning about the need for specialist advice.
Manufacturers and distributors of food products for infants (up to 1 year old) and young children (1 to 3 years old), as well as advertisers are prohibited from:
- financing of any scientific research of their products without the consent of the Ministry of Health;
- providing health workers with promotional materials on breast-milk substitute products (other than scientific information);
- distributing goods (gowns, t-shirts, hats, stationery, etc.) free of charge with the name of breast-milk substitute products;
- distributing promotional products for breast-milk substitutes to mothers and their families;
- giving pregnant women, mothers of young children, and their family members products or gifts in the form of items and accessories that can facilitate the use of breast-milk substitute products or bottle feeding. An exception is the presence of absolute medical contraindications to breastfeeding;
- providing medical institutions (except for children's homes and medical institutions that provide substitute products in case of absolute medical contraindications for breastfeeding) breast-milk substitute products, except for special therapeutic food for children.
Produced and imported baby food intended for sale in Uzbekistan must be certified and meet the requirements of quality and safety.
Packaging materials (containers) in contact with infant milk and baby food must be approved for use by the state control bodies and exclude any possibility of contamination, damage, and ensure the safety of the goods until their expiration date.
There is a separate set of requirements for labelling of baby food and feeding bottles with teats. For example, the texts on them must be in Uzbek (it is possible to use additional labels) and, if necessary, in other languages.
Labels must also indicate the minimum age from which the use of the product is allowed. It is forbidden to place photos of babies and/or feeding bottles with teats - unless these images are illustrating the way of use and method of preparing the food.
Production, transportation, storage and sale it is mandatory to comply with sanitary norms, rules and hygienic standards. It is not allowed to use raw materials obtained from processed products. The methods and conditions of processing, disposal or use of waste baby food for non-food needs, the owner must agree with the competent authorities.
The authorities will organise designated spaces for breastfeeding of infants and young children. These spaces must be designated in state institutions and organizations, bus stations, airports and railway stations, cultural and entertainment institutions, but can also be organized in other organizations.
Law: Law on Supporting Breastfeeding and Requirements for Baby and Infant Food ZRU-574 of 23 October 2019