Health Ministry Steps Up Enforcement of Breast
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health is strengthening regulations against the inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes. This initiative aligns with international codes to protect breastfeeding as a public health priority.
Why it matters
This reflects a global effort to combat the influence of commercial formula marketing on infant health outcomes in developing nations.
The Ministry of Health is moving to strengthen enforcement of rules governing the marketing of breast-milk substitutes, including action against inappropriate promotion of infant formula through mainstream and social media.
State Minister of Health Dereje Duguma (MD) made the commitment during the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week 2026, held under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works”.
The move would reinforce a regulatory framework already in place. Ethiopia’s rules include the 2019 Food and Medicine Proclamation and Baby Food Control Directive No. 840/2021, which regulate the marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
The focus on enforcement comes as breastfeeding remains an important part of infant feeding in the country. UNICEF recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods until two years of age or beyond.
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