The research will monitor media and investigate Internet sites of companies that market infant formulae. It will also use customer feedback sent to the National Food Agency as well as contacts and enquiries from various societies, companies and control authorities.
The marketing of infant formulae is governed by strict international regulations and more restrictions than any other form of marketing, aimed at protecting and promoting breast-feeding.
Last year SMA Nutrition, the Wyeth-owned infant formula manufacturer, was fined £26,000 (€36,948) and ordered to pay nearly £35,000 in costs after it was found guilty of illegal advertising in a UK court.
The marketing of infant formulae is restricted by the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes of the WHO and in Finland also by the Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (485/1997) on infant formulae and follow-on formulae. This Decision enforced directives 91/321/EEC and 96/4/EEC of the Commission of the European Communities.