Govt\\\'s dilly-dally in enforcing BMS Act may mar its core objective

The governments dilly-dally in enforcing the Breast Milk Substitute (Regulation of Marketing) Act 2013 one year after its enactment has yielded little result in controlling BMS products as the implementing authorities have failed to create awareness among the consumers and other stakeholders.
Even the designated monitoring authority in the urban areas that is the Chief Health Officer of the city corporation is completely in the dark about any such law, let alone monitoring its enforcement in the city where demand is the highest.
The Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN) is the key authority to implement the law. In districts, civil surgeons are authorised to see the violation of the law and in City Corporation areas, Chief Health Officer is responsible for that.
Although Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF), the partner organisation of the government for monitoring the implementation of BMS Act, claimed to have started awareness campaign at upazila level under the leadership of the civil surgeon, the city corporations are yet to take any such initiatives as the law has not yet reached their hands as gazette notification.
Bangladesh government has amended the Breast Milk Substitute (Regulation of Marketing) Ordinance, 1984 and passed The Breast Milk Substitutes, Infant Foods Manufactured Commercially and the Accessories Related Thereto (Regulation of Marketing) Act 2013 in parliament on September 22, 2013.
During a visit, it was revealed that city super shops and other shops selling consumer products are flooded with various kinds of formula milk, complementary baby foods.
Regarding the law, branch-in-charge of Agora at Mirpur in the city told the FE that they do not know about this kind of law. They sell various kinds of formula milk and other complementary food as per the prescription of many doctors which the parents carry with them. The demand is increasing day by day, he observed.
He said if there is any such law, there should be extensive campaign and publicity to create awareness among people.
While contacted, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Chief Health Officer Brig Gen AKM Masood Ahsan expressed his ignorance about any such law in the country and wanted to know the provisions of the law.
He said as he was not served with any gazette notification on the law, he cannot take any initiative.
   IPHN director Dr Shah Newaz told the FE that the rules are with the additional secretary of the health ministry Roksana Kader. The law will be notified as gazette once the secretary signs it.
Regarding its view on the law, Nestlé, Bangladesh said Nestle always welcomes any BMS law, which is in line with WHO code aiming to promote breastfeeding and ensure proper use of Breast Milk Substitutes ("BMS") products where needed.