Attention: The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) & The IBCLC Commission

FROM:  International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)

SUBJECT: Systemic Enforcement Deficits Regarding Corporate Commercial Influences and the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) 

We formally request that the IBLCE and the IBCLC Commission establish explicit administrative barriers within the mandatory recertification and renewal processes. 

We request the following formal administrative actions:

1. Integrate a mandatory attestation of compliance witht the Code of Professional Conduct into the recertification processes.

2. Prohibit the recertification of any IBCLC who engages in financial, promotional, or structural partnerships with manufacturers or marketers of breastmilk substitutes. 

This includes such actions as:

• Appearing in promotional materials such as blogs, podcasts, or social media partnerships with a formula company
• Holding advisory or staff positions for a formula company
• Accepting direct payments from formula companies for promoting their products 
• Accepting funding, sponsorship, or gifts from formula companies
• Receiving commissions or kickbacks for referrals or product sales
• Accepting formula company money to subsidize lactation care
• Speaking or presenting in continuing education hosted by formula companies (paid or unpaid)

The IBCLC credential serves as the global gold standard for clinical lactation care, established to ensure the public receives objective, evidence-based, and uncompromised health guidance. Central to this mandate is the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct (CPC), which requires certificants to maintain professional boundaries, avoid conflicts of interest, and prioritize the health and well-being of dyads above commercial interests. Partnerships between anyone holding the IBCLC credential and a formula company have the potential to mislead families, compromise the perception of unbiased care, and degrades the collective standing of all IBCLCs who maintain strict adherence to ethical boundaries.

We, the undersigned credentialed professionals, assert that the IBLCE cannot remain passive while commercial interests utilize our professional credentials for marketing validation.