The Chinese government on Wednesday said it would investigate the alleged "contaminated toothpaste" incident and publicize the result as soon as possible.

The government has called together directors of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, State Food and Drug Administration and the General Administration of Customs to form a team of investigators.

About 50 tubes of toothpaste labeled "Excel and "Mr. Cool" were seized last week from a store in Panama city, Panama and experts confirmed that 2.5 percent of the toothpaste was made up of the chemical diethylene glycol.

The investigators have started work in Beijing and east China's Jiangsu Province, collecting information from relevant enterprises and personnel, said an announcement made by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Last Wednesday the Ministry of Commerce issued new regulations on import and export of toxin compounds, laying down strict limits on dangerous chemical proportions.

The regulations said products that contain more than 40 percent of the chemical compounds toluene, acetone, butanone and vitriol must be tested before receiving a trading license. Products containing more than 10 percent of hydrochloric acid must also be tested, said the regulations.

Although the Panama's Health Ministry General Secretary Francisco Sucre said the level of diethylene glycol isn't dangerous, the ministry urged consumers not to use the products.

As a toxic material diethylene glycol should not be used in dental product, and prohibited for use in cosmetics, foods and pharmaceuticals, the Panamanian ministry said.

The Panama City store from which the toothpaste was seized was closed and local authorities were investigating the manufacturers and how the toothpaste got into the country.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2007)