China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, 国家药品监督管理局) has published a toothpaste classification catalogue that divides toothpaste efficacy into eight categories and sets the wording each may use. The catalogue takes effect on 1 May 2027, and toothpastes already notified must update their records by 1 January 2028.
| Issuing body | National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) |
| Document | Announcement on the Toothpaste Classification Catalogue (《牙膏分类目录》) |
| Document number | NMPA Announcement No. 100 of 2026 (2026年第100号) |
| Issue date | 14 October 2026 (published 15 October 2026) |
| Effective date | 1 May 2027 |
| Deadline for already notified products | 1 January 2028 |
| Scope | Toothpaste notification (备案) codes and efficacy claims on toothpaste labels |
Eight efficacy categories form each product’s classification code
The catalogue divides toothpaste efficacy into eight categories: basic cleaning, cavity prevention, plaque inhibition, dentine hypersensitivity relief, gum problem relief, stain removal and whitening, tartar control and bad breath relief.
When notifying a toothpaste, the notifier (备案人) must combine the codes for its efficacy category and user group into a product classification code. A toothpaste with several efficacies, or one suited to several user groups, may select more than one code.
According to the NMPA’s policy interpretation, each category comes with a stated efficacy mechanism and claim wording. The Toothpaste Supervision and Administration Measures (《牙膏监督管理办法》) gave the NMPA the task of drawing up and adjusting the catalogue.
Claim wording falls into three tiers of control
The announcement sets three levels of control over claim wording. The NMPA’s interpretation links these to the risk level of each type of efficacy.
| Tier | Categories | Rule on claim wording |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic cleaning | Limited to the wording listed in the catalogue; notifiers may not add, remove or alter it |
| 2 | Cavity prevention; plaque inhibition; dentine hypersensitivity relief; gum problem relief | Must be the same as, or close to, the listed wording in meaning and efficacy substance |
| 3 | Stain removal and whitening; tartar control; bad breath relief | Listed wording serves as examples; notifiers may adjust or add wording to fit the product |
The interpretation describes basic cleaning as a function every toothpaste has, and says the fixed wording is meant to stop companies from embellishing or exaggerating it.
It places the four tier-two categories closest to consumers’ oral health, with relatively higher safety risk and a record of illegal claims. The three tier-three categories focus on general oral cleaning and care, with relatively lower risk.
Labels may not state or imply medical effects
When efficacy wording on a label is combined with other words, it must comply with laws, regulations, mandatory national standards and technical specifications. Labels may not carry content that states or implies a medical effect.
Drug regulators at all levels are told to guide toothpaste notifiers and manufacturers to meet the requirements. Once the catalogue takes effect, they are to step up inspections and act against claims that breach it.
Notified products must be updated by 1 January 2028
From 1 May 2027, newly notified toothpastes must meet the catalogue’s classification codes and claim requirements. Notifiers of toothpastes notified before that date must change their notification information by 1 January 2028.
Toothpaste produced or imported before a notifier completes that change may be sold until the end of its shelf life. The interpretation adds that this applies where the product has no quality or safety problem.
New efficacy types can be added through periodic revisions
The NMPA will adjust the catalogue in line with research, industry development and regulatory practice. Because toothpaste is notified rather than registered, the interpretation says there can be no registration route for a “new efficacy toothpaste” of the kind used for cosmetics.
Instead, new efficacy categories, mechanisms and claim wording can be added to the catalogue once they have been fully assessed and the industry has reached consensus, the interpretation says.
Coming up · We may follow up with the full code list in the catalogue’s annex and with other NMPA rules on cosmetics efficacy claims.
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