The Beijing-based China Sexology Association (CSA), a nonprofit organization for promoting "healthy reproductive knowledge", is being investigated for allegedly profiting from business activities, a source from the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said yesterday.

The law enforcement department of the civil society administration bureau under the ministry is handling the case, an anonymous worker with the administration told China Daily.

Beijing's Legal Evening News reported on Tuesday that the association operated its own businesses and worked with other companies to make money.

The association is also suspected of setting up a committee of experts to endorse products related to reproductive health, the newspaper said.

The paper added that at a sex culture festival in Guangzhou last month, the association reportedly sold copper plates bearing its name to retailers of reproductive health products for up to 600 yuan ($83) each.

A worker with the sexology association, who also asked to remain anonymous, said: "We welcome the authorities coming to investigate and are willing to cooperate fully. Officials from the MCA were here earlier."

He said the association's "daily operations were unaffected".

The association has already submitted a report on the issue to the MCA and the Ministry of Health, the source said. He said it has "never run businesses or violated regulations" and that "the truth will be come out after the investigation".

The CSA, founded in 1994 to carry out research on sex and to promote healthy reproductive knowledge, is registered as an academic society with the MCA, and as such is prohibited from running businesses.

(China Daily January 18, 2008)