After committal, the Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 21st July 2021 debated and approved with unanimity the bill entitled: “The Breast Milk Substitutes Act 2020”, with some amendments.

The Bill is an Act that is seeking to provide for safe and adequate nutrition for infants and young children by promoting safe breastfeeding and regulating the marketing of breast-milk substitutes and to provide for other related matters.

Acting Chairman of the Legislative Committee in Parliament, Hon. Ishmail Sama Sandy presented a detailed reporter on the said Bill in respect of certain amendments. Some of these amendments are inclusive of titles, sections, contents, clauses, administrative structures, the committee in charge, functions, definitions, power offenses CES, and market regulating strategies among others. He further informed a Committee of the Whole House that the proposed amendments were reflective of the Legislative, Agriculture, and Health Committees, together with contributions from officers of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

The Bill after its presentation went through extensive examination before passage into law with some amendments.
The Bill was initially brought to Parliament by the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation (I) Dr. Augustine Sandi and was today piloted by the Deputy Minister (II) Dr. Amara Jambai that resulted in the final passage into law with some amendments.

After passage into law with some amendments, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma thanked the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Members of Parliament, Staff of Parliament, and development partners, particularly FOCUS 1000 for their contributions towards the passage of tall-important and Bill into law for safe breastfeeding and regulating substitutes breast milk for the growth of infants and young children in Sierra Leone.