The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday announced an
investigation into the National Committee for Oral Health (NCOH),
freshly scrapped at the end of April.
On April 30, the ministry abolished the NCOH accusing it of
being "unable to respond adequately to health development needs".
Further details emerged that tarnished the organization for lacking
qualifications to endorse oral hygiene products.
"All institutions should follow Chinese laws and regulations
when they engage in product endorsement," said MOH spokesman Mao
Qun'an at a press conference. "In this light, relevant departments
have launched an investigation to this end among other economic
issues concerning the NCOH."
The NCOH originated in 1988 and was formed by the Ministry of
Health to help improve the oral health of Chinese people.
It rose to prominence by endorsing toothpaste, toothbrushes and
chewing gum, its logo often appearing on adverts or product labels.
It has endorsed such major players as Crest toothpaste and Lotte
gum.
However, it has endured several lawsuits in recent years which
called its qualifications into question although verdict on these
is still pending. In March last year, under mounting pressure, the
NCOH finally admitted it did not have the right to grant official
approval to products.
(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2007)