Russia's Association of Internet Trade Companies (AKIT) sent to the State Duma's chairman Vyacheslav Volodin a negative review on the proposal of a group of Russian senators and MPs to prohibit the dissemination of any information about infant formulas as a complete substitute for breast milk, the Izvestia reports.

A new version of the bill banning advertising of infant formulas was introduced to the State Duma in October. It provides for restrictions on the dissemination of information about formulas in any way and in any form, including product demonstration.

Corporate lawyers do not yet understand how regulators are going to interpret such restrictions during their inspections, AKIT's president Artyom Sokolov said. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), which is the corresponding supervisory body, may interpret product photos and descriptions as informing buyers, he said. In addition, the proposed restrictions are likely to prevent retailers from posting information about their product, including its name and cost, even on the price tag.

The adoption of the bill may entail a ban on the open sale of breast milk substitutes on the Internet, restricting the access to them for women who need artificial feeding for medical reasons.

FAS has already received the initiative, it is under consideration. The Ministry of Agriculture does not support amendments, proposed to the Law on Advertising. No ban on advertising of infant formulas will have any effect, the ministry noted. The Ministry of Healthcare provided no comments.

A new version of the bill, restricting promotion of infant formulas as a complete substitute for breast milk, was drawn up following the Russian government's remarks. The Cabinet of Ministers does not find it convincing that a ban on advertising of breast milk substitutes would have a positive effect on popularization of natural breastfeeding. Breastfeeding might be supported not only through introducing such a ban, but also by creating comfortable conditions for feeding and social advertising, it is noted in the draft review. Also, the bill does not regulate issues related to certain conditions and diseases in mothers that are contraindications for breastfeeding, the government specified earlier.