United States Federal Law
In the United States, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act (2022) expanded the Fair Labor Standards Act to require most employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for nursing employees to express breast milk for up to one year after the child's birth. The Affordable Care Act also requires most health insurance plans to cover breastfeeding support and equipment. Federal law protects breastfeeding in public federal buildings. Most states have additional laws protecting breastfeeding in public and, in some cases, extending workplace protections.
United Kingdom Law
In the UK, there is no specific law granting a right to breastfeed in public, but the Equality Act 2010 protects breastfeeding mothers from less favourable treatment — asking a breastfeeding woman to stop or leave a public place constitutes sex discrimination. Workplace law requires employers to provide facilities for expressing milk, though the specific requirements are less detailed than US law. Scotland passed the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, specifically making it an offence to prevent a child under two from being breastfed in a public place.
International Standards
The WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (1981) restricts marketing of formula and related products to protect breastfeeding. The WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative promotes hospital practices supporting breastfeeding. The ILO Maternity Protection Convention recommends one or more daily breastfeeding breaks for employed mothers. Implementation of these standards varies significantly by country.
