The Wales Board of the British Dietetic Association are pleased to endorse the response of the Wales Dietetic Leadership Advisory Group (WDLAG) and Public Health Dietitians in Wales (PHDiW) Network to this consultation.

Getting nutrition and the diet right in the first 1000 days of life is crucial. Dietitians are the only appropriately qualified healthcare professionals with the knowledge and experience in nutrition and diet. This means that they are able to advise and lead on all aspects of nutrition in the unborn baby, infant and young child and hence play a pivotal role in this critical stage of life.

Uniquely, dietitians use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people including pregnant women, mothers and parents to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices for themselves and their children.

It is important to be aware that dietitians are statutorily regulated, with a protected title and governed by an ethical code, to ensure that they always work to the highest standard. The title 'dietitian' can only be used by those appropriately trained professionals who have registered with the Health Care Professions Council and whose details are on the HCPC website.