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)
