By Jung Min-ho
Dentists are up in arms over the government's plan to change the legal status of toothpaste from a medicine to a cosmetic product.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is pushing for a revision of related laws in order to regulate toothpastes as a cosmetic in line with requests from the Korea Cosmetic Association.
"We are just trying to put it into the right category," a ministry official said. "Products such as toothpaste, deodorant, depilatory and dyes are categorized as cosmetics in many other countries, unlike Korea."
In the United States, only toothpastes with anti-cavity claims are categorized as drugs, while those without such claims are classified as cosmetics, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
If everything goes well, the official said, toothpastes will no longer be regulated under the strict Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.
The Korean Dental Association (KDA) believes that such a change will produce less safe toothpastes in the market.
"Toothpastes are closely related to the public health," the KDA said. "Thus, they have to be regulated strictly. So the law should remain as it is."
"We believe it could be highly risky as people could easily swallow toothpastes while brushing their teeth."
The KDA also noted that the change could cause confusion among people as toothpastes have long been recognized as medicines.
Dentists are up in arms over the government's plan to change the legal status of toothpaste from a medicine to a cosmetic product.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is pushing for a revision of related laws in order to regulate toothpastes as a cosmetic in line with requests from the Korea Cosmetic Association.
"We are just trying to put it into the right category," a ministry official said. "Products such as toothpaste, deodorant, depilatory and dyes are categorized as cosmetics in many other countries, unlike Korea."
In the United States, only toothpastes with anti-cavity claims are categorized as drugs, while those without such claims are classified as cosmetics, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
If everything goes well, the official said, toothpastes will no longer be regulated under the strict Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.
The Korean Dental Association (KDA) believes that such a change will produce less safe toothpastes in the market.
"Toothpastes are closely related to the public health," the KDA said. "Thus, they have to be regulated strictly. So the law should remain as it is."
"We believe it could be highly risky as people could easily swallow toothpastes while brushing their teeth."
The KDA also noted that the change could cause confusion among people as toothpastes have long been recognized as medicines.
