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)
