Accreditation
Many approaches had been made to the Foundation over the years by companies wishing to accredit oral hygiene products and indeed the archives show a talk at the 1975 AGM by Dr William Brown from Iowa on - 'Endorsement of Dental Products - Yes or No?'. In 1991 the time was considered right to launch an Accreditation scheme but few could have predicted just how it would transform the financial health and future of the Foundation. In the first eight months of the scheme alone some 37 products were accredited and steady growth in the succeeding years have led to some 280 product submissions and 150 products on shelf with live accreditation.
The result of this accreditation activity was financial security for the Foundation which led to the ability to make longer term plans for major activity to promote its charitable aims.
Today, the Foundation is responsible for the largest dental product accreditation scheme in the world, covering 150 products in over 50 countries. It is a "Claims-based" scheme and approved products are awarded the British or International version of the Smiley-face logo which is displayed on packaging to help inform and advise the public .
Read more about this topic: British Dental Health Foundation