China's Ministry of Health scraps controversial oral health organization

The National Committee for Oral Health (NCOH), an organization whose qualifications for approving oral hygiene products had been disputed by industry experts, has been abolished by the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Health said it had decided to abolish the NCOH because it is "unable to respond adequately to health development needs."

The ministry will set up an oral health department under its disease prevention and control bureau to take over oral disease prevention and control work.

NCOH, composed of experts, was set up in 1988 by the Ministry of Health with a mandate to improve the oral health of Chinese people.

Its name regularly appeared on ads for toothpaste, toothbrushes and chewing gums. Product labeling said that the products had been approved by the "authoritative NCOH".

At least nine products including Crest toothpaste and Lotte chewing gum have been approved by the NCOH.

However, last year several lawyers sued the NCOH, calling its qualifications into question. The court is yet to pronounce a sentence in that case.

At a press conference in March last year, the NCOH admitted that it does not have the right to grant official approval to products.

Li Gang, a doctor of law at Qinghua University, who sued NCOH last year, told media on Monday that "the Ministry of Health's decision to abolish the NCOH is a step in the right direction."

"But the ministry has failed to address the central issue," Li said. "The NCOH has been approving products illegally for more than 10 years and it connived with companies whose exaggerated advertisements claimed NCOH approval. Who is responsible for this? " asked Li.

"The NCOH should reveal to the public whether they charged companies fees for these illegal approvals, and how the fees were spent," Li added.

Source: Xinhua