Takeaways

• The groundbreaking Lactation/Breastfeeding Code, signed into law 08.01.25, repeals Law 427-2000 and replaces it entirely, along with multiple other lactation-related laws.
• Employees, regardless of whether part-time or full-time, are now entitled to no less than one paid hour per workday to breastfeed their child or express breastmilk, for a minimum of 12 months after returning from maternity leave.
• Employers must notify all employees of their rights under the new code.

Puerto Rico has enacted a groundbreaking Lactation/Breastfeeding Code that consolidates in one statute the rights of breastfeeding employees and the responsibilities of employers across the Island.

Signed into law on August 1, 2025, through Senate Bill 476, the “Código de Lactancia de Puerto Rico” (“Code”), repeals Law 427-2000, which was amended earlier this summer. The new Code establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive public policy in favor of breastfeeding and consolidates workplace protections under a single statute.

The new Code goes beyond mere reorganization. It broadens employee entitlements, strengthens employer obligations, and introduces enhanced enforcement mechanisms — including potential civil and criminal liability for noncompliance.

A New Era of Breastfeeding Protections in Puerto Rico

The Code establishes a modernized and comprehensive framework for addressing lactation in the context of maternal and child health. It sets forth breastfeeding as a matter of public policy,...

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