“This is a momentous victory following decades-long efforts by parents and public-health experts to protect the act of breastfeeding,” Thomas Davin said on Wednesday.

“The passing of this law marks Thailand’s milestone step in joining countries like the Philippines, India and Nepal in implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, an internationally-agreed measure to address the negative impact of aggressive marketing practices of formula milk on effective breastfeeding practices.”

Davin also cited medical findings that optimal breastfeeding could prevent more than 800,000 infant deaths each year, contribute to higher IQs of three points on average, and reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in mothers. “It’s our job to make breastfeeding the right and easy choice. But when breastmilk substitutes are often marketed as equal to or superior to breastmilk in nutritional value, it sends the wrong and misleading message to families. When formula companies market their products in healthcare settings, it undermines the role of healthcare providers in delivering fact-based support to mothers,” he said adding the Act would regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitute.

As Unicef has worked in partnership with the Department of Health and other partners such as the Thai Breastfeeding Centre Foundation for almost 20 years on this key legislation, Davin congratulated these partners on their commitment and effort for the children’s health. “We now need to work harder with communities and mothers to explain why breastfeeding is so critical for their children’s future… We need to work with private sector partners so lactating mothers can breastfeed or pump milk in a safe and clean room reserved to do just that at their workplace,” he said, adding they would also work with Thai authorities to expand maternity leave provisions so that lactating mothers can have more time with their infants and can be confident to still have a job when returning from their leave.