Breaking the Rules (BTR) 2001 describes the evidence of violations collected during a 14-country survey of company compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions. The monitoring results cover 16 transnational baby food companies and 13 manufacturers of bottles and teats.

It is important to recognise that for each violation spotted and supported by documentation, there are surely thousands more of the same, many remain unreported and still others – in the form of private deals, transactions and agreements – escape from the public eye. The violations documented in this report therefore represent only the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

IBFAN is determined to see the Code implemented globally as a minimum health standard. It hopes this publication will help to raise awareness about the many threats to breastfeeding and stimulate an increasing number of concerned citizens to become Code monitors.