Oral care products are currently under the supervision of the Quality Inspection Department. If they fall under the cosmetics category, they will be subject to stricter regulations by the CFDA.
A source told Shanghai's China Business News that if the ruling goes ahead; toothpaste makers will have to list all of the ingredients and also 'regulate their advertisements to refer only to the basics of cleaning teeth and rely on their quality to win recognition'.
"Just as cosmetics require screening, toothpaste that is marketed as medicinal will have to apply for special screening and some may have to undergo human trials to prove their medical effects," the publication reported.
Legislative office also considers official ban on cosmetics advertisements
China's Legislative Affairs Office recently published a draft document where it also stated it is considering an official ban on any cosmetics advertisements with 'exaggerated claims'.
The document states that advertisements should be genuine and legitimate, with scientific evidence and research data clearly published on the CFDA's website to back up claims.
Any company found to be making exaggerated or false claims will be suspended from selling their products in China.
If a beauty brand continues to practice in this way, it will, according to the Authority, be fined up to 50,000 yuan as well as having its' products confiscated.
The draft also called for e-commerce suppliers to tighten management over cosmetics sales and shut down any online shops found to have violated CFDA regulation.
That regulation states that online cosmetic sellers have to provide adequate lab and evaluation data for the marketing claims of their products as well as trading platforms to check the qualifications of cosmetics and drug sellers.
China has over 630 million internet users and this rule is intended to prohibit producers and wholesalers to sell products to online consumers, and will require sellers of food, health food, cosmetics, and medical apparatus and instruments to obtain permits.