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New laws to let mothers know 'breastfeeding welcome here'

NEW laws are to be introduced in Northern Ireland to support breastfeeding in public places. Plans for legislation are included in a new strategy, launched yesterday, which aims to protect, promote and normalise the practise over the next 10 years.

The law could be similar to Scottish legislation, which makes it an offence for someone to deliberately prevent or stop a person feeding milk to a child aged under two in a public place.

It is hoped it could help change the current culture in Northern Ireland where breastfeeding in shops and restaurants is not seen as the norm.

A public consultation on the detail of the legislation is expected to take place.

The strategy comes as breastfeeding initiation rates in Northern Ireland remain the lower than in Britain, despite having almost doubled in the last 20 years from 36 per cent to 64 per cent in 2010.

However, breastfeeding rates in the north have remained static for the past five years.

The new strategy aims that by 2025, 70 per cent of all infants will be breastfed by one week after birth and 40 per cent of all infants will still be breastfed at 6 months.

The strategy includes the promotion and extension of the 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' initiative to more businesses and public facilities, and the strengthening of legislation regulating Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula milks to control the marketing of such products to the public.

It also aims to provide more information and education to pregnant women and their families to facilitate to make informed decisions.

Health minister Edwin Poots said breastfeeding "promotes health, prevents disease and helps contribute to reducing health inequalities".

"The challenge is to encourage more parents to choose breastfeeding for their children and to ensure that they are supported to do so," he said.

"The strategy's vision is to provide babies with a good start in life by ensuring breastfeeding is the norm. Everyone has a role to play in this from parents to health professionals, to businesses and the public.

"The strategy provides for the introduction of legislation to strengthen support for breastfeeding here."

? CONFERENCE: Health minister Edwin Poots launches the new breastfeeding strategy for Northern Ireland at a joint conference on breastfeeding and relationship building hosted by the Public Health Agency and UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative. Also pictured are, from left, Janet Calvert PHA, Leanne McMullan with Eliza (10months), Gerardette McGivern with baby Austin Gerard (4 weeks old), Maire Alexander with baby Joe (6 months) and Sue Ashmore from Unicef