The Ministry of Health, through its Nutrient Division, recommends breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life and thereafter add solid food along with the breast milk until a baby is one (1) year. 

But the Health Ministry is yet to legitimately set up a gauge to regulate food for toddlers or infants or young children to substitute breast milk when the need arises.

In a consolidated effort, Rivercess County District #2 Representative Byron W. Zahwea on Thursday, August 26, introduced a legislation to ensure that marketing of requisite substitutes for breast milk is properly regulated to avoid the import and sale of substances that might affect infants and young children.

In his communication to House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, read on Thursday, August 26 -- the 58th day sitting; Rep. Zahnwea submitted for enactment a bill titled, “An Act to Amend the National Public Heath Law, Part XI, Chapter 51: Regulation for Making Goods and Other Products for Infants and Young Children, adding thereto Subsection 51.4(B)”.

According to the amendment, it reemphasizes: “Breastfeeding is an integral part of human (Infants and young children) existence on earth; breast milk supplies, among other things, nutrients in the proper proportion which, if must be replaced, should be done with a substance that serves the same purpose as breast milk, considering that it is imperative for the replacement of breast milk when there exists medical or other situations that threaten the survival of an infant's or young child’s life.”

The communication stated furthered: “The Ministry of Health, through its Nutrient Division, shall ensure to make code of marketing of breast milk substitute.”

Meanwhile, the regulation of the Baby Food Safety Bill was unanimously voted upon to be sent to the Joint Committee on Health, Ways, Means, Finance & Development Planning and Judiciary, to report in two (2) weeks.