Inspired Question · S6W-42295 · Session 6
When the response to the recommendations set out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the February 2025 Market Study into Infa…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government when the response to the recommendations set out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the February 2025 Market Study into Infant formula and Follow-on formula will be published, in light of these measures being designed to increase affordability of a vital food product for babies.
The answer
On 14 February 2025, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published the final report of its market study into the UK infant and follow-on formula market. CMA set out 11 recommendations to the Scottish, Welsh and UK Governments and Northern Ireland Executive.Today, I can confirm the four nations have published a joint response: Infant formula: government response to CMA market study
- GOV.UK to CMA’s recommendations. This response complements the range of measures taking place in Scotland to support new parents and carers on their infant feeding journeys, including our five year plan: 4. Our Vision
- Breastfeeding and infant feeding: strategic framework 2025-2030
- gov.scot for infant feeding and breastfeeding, country wide accreditation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and our continued commitment to protect all parents from inappropriate marketing of infant formula. Scotland can play an important and leading role in addressing Infant Food Insecurity given our Government’s core mission to eradicate child poverty.Whilst there are important measures to welcome, I have also reiterated to the UK Government the need to do more to address challenges which necessitate a strong four-nations response. This is particularly relevant for how and where retailers are located geographically, and where baby food and infant formula prices are further inflated in different parts of the UK. This has a particularly acute impact on rural and island communities in Scotland who already face higher prices for groceries, and I am considering how we may take rapid action to both assess and address how we might mitigate this for families.Getting the right nutrition at the start is crucial for a baby’s healthy growth and development. While we remain fully committed to supporting breastfeeding, which brings significant benefits for mothers and babies, we recognise that some families cannot, or choose not to, breastfeed. For families that do not exclusively breastfeed, infant formula is an essential item. The CMA makes a strong case that action is needed to give parents and carers confidence to choose lower priced products and encourage manufacturers and retailers to compete more on price.There are already regulations that require all infant formula and follow-on formula manufacturers to comply with robust nutritional and compositional standards, alongside rules on how formula milk products are labelled, presented and advertised to protect parents and carers from inappropriate claims or promotions. This means all infant formula sold on the UK market is safe, when used appropriately, and meets the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.In this joint UK response to the CMA’s recommendations, the four nations set out a strong package of measures. This package seeks to support parents and carers to make better-informed decisions if they need, or choose, to use infant formula and place downward pressure on the price. It focuses on ensuring comprehensive and accessible information in healthcare and retail settings, and places emphasis on encouraging retailers to voluntarily implement measures to better enable product comparison and stimulate competition between brands. In Scotland we will consider existing enforcement processes and update and clarify guidance to strengthen adherence, where needed.The UK Government has also committed to reviewing existing infant formula legislation to ensure retailers can accept food bank vouchers, gift cards and loyalty points as part or full payment for infant formula. The Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland will work closely with the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the other Devolved Governments on guidance clarifying what is permissible under the existing legislation in Scotland. This is due to publish shortly.We will continue working with the UK Government and Devolved Governments. However, we will keep this package of measures under review t
- GOV.UK to CMA’s recommendations. This response complements the range of measures taking place in Scotland to support new parents and carers on their infant feeding journeys, including our five year plan: 4. Our Vision
- Breastfeeding and infant feeding: strategic framework 2025-2030
- gov.scot for infant feeding and breastfeeding, country wide accreditation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and our continued commitment to protect all parents from inappropriate marketing of infant formula. Scotland can play an important and leading role in addressing Infant Food Insecurity given our Government’s core mission to eradicate child poverty.Whilst there are important measures to welcome, I have also reiterated to the UK Government the need to do more to address challenges which necessitate a strong four-nations response. This is particularly relevant for how and where retailers are located geographically, and where baby food and infant formula prices are further inflated in different parts of the UK. This has a particularly acute impact on rural and island communities in Scotland who already face higher prices for groceries, and I am considering how we may take rapid action to both assess and address how we might mitigate this for families.Getting the right nutrition at the start is crucial for a baby’s healthy growth and development. While we remain fully committed to supporting breastfeeding, which brings significant benefits for mothers and babies, we recognise that some families cannot, or choose not to, breastfeed. For families that do not exclusively breastfeed, infant formula is an essential item. The CMA makes a strong case that action is needed to give parents and carers confidence to choose lower priced products and encourage manufacturers and retailers to compete more on price.There are already regulations that require all infant formula and follow-on formula manufacturers to comply with robust nutritional and compositional standards, alongside rules on how formula milk products are labelled, presented and advertised to protect parents and carers from inappropriate claims or promotions. This means all infant formula sold on the UK market is safe, when used appropriately, and meets the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.In this joint UK response to the CMA’s recommendations, the four nations set out a strong package of measures. This package seeks to support parents and carers to make better-informed decisions if they need, or choose, to use infant formula and place downward pressure on the price. It focuses on ensuring comprehensive and accessible information in healthcare and retail settings, and places emphasis on encouraging retailers to voluntarily implement measures to better enable product comparison and stimulate competition between brands. In Scotland we will consider existing enforcement processes and update and clarify guidance to strengthen adherence, where needed.The UK Government has also committed to reviewing existing infant formula legislation to ensure retailers can accept food bank vouchers, gift cards and loyalty points as part or full payment for infant formula. The Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland will work closely with the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the other Devolved Governments on guidance clarifying what is permissible under the existing legislation in Scotland. This is due to publish shortly.We will continue working with the UK Government and Devolved Governments. However, we will keep this package of measures under review t
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-42295 by reference.