Abstract
News From the International Lactation Consultant Association
– ILCA news and compilation of other news by Lisa Mandell, MBA, IBCLC
Global Advocacy Adviser, International Lactation Consultant Association
advocacy@ilca.org
ILCA participated in another global forum on behalf of our members, sending three delegates to the Executive Board (EB) meeting of the World Health Organization in Geneva, 2–7 February. The Executive Board is comprised of 34 member states elected for 3-year terms. At the EB meeting, members agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly in May, and the resolutions to be considered by the Health Assembly.
ILCA’s in-person delegates were Zoe Faulkner, serving on ILCA’s board of directors, from the United Kingdom, Maryse Arendt from Luxembourg, and Paola Gaete Hermosilla from Chile (Paola was also representing IBFAN at the EB). These volunteers, supported by Global Advocacy Adviser Lisa Mandell and team member Katie Pereira-Kotze, worked to draft statements identifying the importance of breastfeeding and skilled lactation care in many areas of the health agenda. ILCA also signed onto two constituency statements delivered on behalf of many non-state actors (also known as civil society or non-governmental organizations).
ILCA’s goal in making these statements is to help those working in different areas of health understand how support of breastfeeding and skilled lactation care can help to bring about improvements in health. When policy makers understand that increasing breastfeeding can reduce non-communicable diseases, improve mental health, impact child morbidity and mortality in health emergencies, and more, we are more likely to see policies that support breastfeeding. ILCA additionally advocates for implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, including the resolution on regulating digital marketing that was passed in 2025. This year, we also stated support for new regulations on hygienic standards for commercial milk formula and updated preparation guidance, to address the plethora of cases of contamination-related recalls of formula. You can find all of ILCA’s statements here.
ILCA will continue to network with other non-state actor organizations, representatives from member states, and the World Health Organization in protecting and supporting breastfeeding. The next opportunity is at the World Health Assembly (WHA79), 18–23 May 2026 in Geneva.
When ILCA participates in these global fora, we speak on behalf of our members—their expertise, values, and the realities of their work with families. ILCA strongly supports the inclusion of input from non-state actors in high-level decision-making and policy settings, so that the important perspectives and experiences of those working directly with families, and those conducting research and evaluating policy, are included. This is especially critical at a time of significant financial constraints in the global health sector.
Together, we turn global advocacy into collective impact and improved global health.
News From the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
– Update received 13 January 2026 from IBLCE®
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners®
iblce@iblce.org
MILCC Scholarship Program
A supporting affiliate of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners®, the Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification® (MILCC®) organization works toward a world where every family has access to the gold standard in lactation care.
MILCC provides a variety of scholarships to aspiring or current IBCLCs. In 2025, for 2026 IBCLC examination administrations, MILCC awarded 26 full or partial scholarships to individuals in 10 different countries:
The MILCC General Scholarship: 16 full and eight partial scholarships to recipients in Australia, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, the United States, and Zimbabwe;
The JoAnne W. Scott Peer-to-Peer Scholarship: one recipient in the United States;
The Global Humanitarian Scholarship: one recipient due to the devastating floods in the Philippines.
Applications for scholarships toward IBCLC® certification and recertification in 2027 will open
Impacting both those seeking to earn the IBCLC and those currently holding the credential—and thereby impacting the families and communities they serve around the world—MILCC continues to be a major force in support of lactation and global public health.
IBCLC Care Award
IBLCE and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) proudly offer this joint recognition annually, honoring hospitals and community-based health facilities which demonstrate their commitment to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding, staff the facility with IBCLCs, and have a dedicated lactation program.
Facilities meeting Award requirements may submit their materials during the application window announced on the IBCLC Care Award website (www.ibclccare.org; applications generally open in late February for approximately 1 month). To be eligible for the Award, facilities must demonstrate completion of projects and training, based on the facility type, that promote, protect, and support breastfeeding and/or the IBCLC credential. All facilities that receive the Award then appear in a directory on the Award website for the following two years, informing the public of facilities in their area with IBCLCs on staff, and receive Award materials to mark their achievement.
Applications for the 2026 IBCLC Care Award closed in late March, and recipients will be announced in May.
News From the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Network
– update received on 14 January 2026 from María-Teresa Hernández-Aguilar, MD, MPH, PhD, IBCLC
BFHI Network Chair
international@ihan.es
The BFHI Network has remained active despite the challenges currently faced by nongovernmental organizations. Encouraging progress has been reported in several countries. In Spain, recent breastfeeding data show continued improvement. In June 2025, Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) became the first Baby-friendly Island, with all primary healthcare centers and the hospital achieving BFHI accreditation. Israel launched its BFHI accreditation system in December 2025, and New Zealand continues to support the World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Baby Friendly Program through a national repository of BFHI resources, including materials promoting culturally safe, whānau-centered care for Māori communities. Alliances are also being strengthened with the Latin America BFHI Network. In June, IHAB (BFHI-France) organized a webinar to present the Code to healthcare institutions and encourage them to comply with it. The webinar was very well received, with more than 500 attendees from across the country.
In November, the BFHI-Network hosted a webinar highlighting international initiatives relevant to breastfeeding promotion. Dr. Vettorazi (Slovenia) presented the experience of Baby-Friendly Communities and Cities, an initiative reshaping the breastfeeding landscape in Slovenia. Dr. Bergliot (Norway) and Dr. Giusti (Italy) provided updates on the European Joint Action Prevent NCD, which aims to reduce the burden of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Within this initiative, Work Package 6.5 focuses on the first 1000 days, emphasizing breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support. It seeks to pilot the best practice Baby-friendly Community and Health Services (BFC&HS) to strengthen breastfeeding support after hospital discharge in European countries. Spain, Italy, Norway, Greece, Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Croatia, Estonia, and Austria participate in this pilot. The objective is to improve breastfeeding rates as a contribution to reducing future NCD risk while addressing social and health inequalities. Guidance and training materials are currently being finalized for pilot implementation, with plans for broader dissemination.
In February 2026, the BFHI Network will host a webinar to support countries experiencing challenges in BFHI initiation or maintenance, using the Nine National Responsibilities self-appraisal tool. Preparations are also underway for an in-person meeting of the BFHI Network in Rome.
The BFHI Network continues its collaboration with the Global Breastfeeding Collective (GBC) and has offered volunteer support to sustain its work. The Network finalized a revised competency verification toolkit, expanded to include community healthcare workers, which is currently under WHO review and expected to be released later this year. In addition, Network members are contributing a chapter on BFHI to the forthcoming edition of Lawrence and Lawrence’s Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession.
Together, these activities demonstrate the BFHI Network’s continued commitment to strengthening breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support across health systems and communities, while advancing quality, equity, and sustainability in maternal and child health.
News From the International Baby Food Action Network
– IBFAN update received on 27 January 2026 from Elisabeth Sterken, BSc, MSc, Dt.
IBFAN Global Council
elisabethsterken@gmail.com
Is Powdered Infant Formula Safe?
Recent widespread outbreaks of microbial contamination of a full range of formula products, setting off global recalls, makes apparent that powdered infant formula (PIF) is an unsafe product that puts infants’ health and lives at risk.
Contamination of powdered infant formula products is a repeated occurrence and has been commonplace for decades. The current extensive recalls of multiple infant formula products from the largest global producers of baby feeding products spreading over more than 60 countries has exposed serious gaps in hygienic measures of formula production and systemic failures in regulatory oversight.
The Codex Alimentarius Code of Hygienic Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children, including accompanying WHO Guidelines on the Safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant
IBFAN’s request to the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH55) in December 2025 to review and update the Code of Hygienic Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children, for manufacturing facilities and procedures to be revised, and for governments to ensure adequate regulations, inspections, and independent surveillance of production facilities to meet all hygienic practices and standards during all phases of the product and ingredient manufacturing process was adopted. While the process of revision to address contamination risk both at Codex and at national levels is expected to take years, infants will remain at risk from unsafe products.
Hence, a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution is urgently needed to expedite the revision of standards and guidelines to revise and strengthen the food safety and regulatory frameworks for infant formula product safety. IBFAN is requesting Member States to support a resolution at the upcoming WHA meeting in May 2026. The resolution can also address the additional problems, such as cross-border global media marketing and on-line sales, especially at national level where products may not be registered or regulated. Of considerable concern is the risk of contaminated products in emergency situations or in settings where health care support is limited.
Since 2026 is a reporting year for Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition,
(1) Expedite the updating of the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children,(2009), and the WHO Guideline on the Safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula (2007).
(2) Highlight the need for national food safety authorities, verification and surveillance to be regular, independent, transparent, and free from commercial interference.
(3) Encourage all Member States to provide accurate and updated information and support to parents to reduce dependence on unsafe products, in line with WHO recommendations on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes and foods for infants and young children and especially WHA78.18.
(4) Encourage Member States to fully embrace the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, and provide skilled support for breastfeeding and mandatory paid maternity protection and leave.
