AQW 25049/22-27

Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 25/03/2025
Answered On Date: 09/04/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he is considering implementing the recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority that maternity units and baby clinics only provide unbranded infant formula to new parents so they are not influencing new parents to buy infant formula based on branding rather than price.

Answer:

Following the publication of the final Competition and Markets Authority report on the infant formula and follow-on formula market study, my Department is currently working closely with the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland to assess all of the recommendations. Officials are also engaging with counterparts across England, Scotland and Wales to consider the report.

Until this assessment concludes, I am not in a position to comment on individual recommendations set out in the report.