IDA Seal

The IDA Seal of Acceptance Program began in 1994. It acts as a Gold Standard Acceptance Representation for Public Safety and Efficacy of Dental Products available to the Public & Dental Professionals. The IDA Seal helps people in differentiating and selecting the best available products from all the products at their dispense in the market. The sole purpose of the seal is to help people select the best product for themselves. Similarly, it also helps the dentists to recommend the best products to their patients from the wide range out there.

For Public

Make IDA Seal a part of your regular Oral hygiene regime

To bring about Gold standard regulations assuring safety and efficacy of all Oral Health Products in the market. Presence of IDA Seal is a shield which assures that the product is safe for effective oral care and serves the purpose to its mission when used as per the instructions given by the manufacturer and under the guidance of Professional Advice wherever necessary.

IDA will be regularly updating the directory of Oral Health Products as per product classification with all necessary details about the Product’s Seal of Acceptance. The information regarding the same will be accessible to everyone who wishes to learn more about it.

IDA, hereby, advises and encourages people to use Oral Health Products with IDA Seal for most effective oral care. IDA also welcomes any questions and queries by the people about IDA Seal via all our platforms.

For dental professional

Make IDA Seal a Part of your Dental Practice

Learn more about the IDA Seal of Acceptance
  1. What goes in making a Dental Product get IDA Approval Seal:

    The IDA Seal of Acceptance is not given away to any Dental Product without an in-depth evaluation process by our Council on IDA Seal. Each Product is independently evaluated and IDA makes sure that the product lives up to the specific IDA Seal claims on the back of every package and is safe to use by the Public. You can count on us that we’ve done completed our evaluation process with complete attention to the smallest of details with precision before adding a product to the program.

Dental Product Recommendations Simplified

Dental product trends come and go. Help the public achieve their best home dental care by recommending personalised products with the IDA Seal of Acceptance. Use searchable product database to find safe and effective products to fit your patients’ needs.

Get your Products IDA Seal Approved:

Oral health products cleared by the Food Safety and Standards Authority Govt. of India for sale can be marked by IDA Seal. The IDA Scientific Council (CSA) evaluates consumer dental products such as Oral Health Products, Therapeutic agents, Drugs, Chemicals, Materials, Instruments, and Equipment that are used in the treatment or prevention of dental disease. In addition, cosmetic agents may also be eligible for the Seal.

Not every dental product qualifies for the Seal. There are certain requirements that must be met. For example, a company that applies for the Seal must

  • Submit ingredient lists, labelling claims and other pertinent product information for review and approval.
  • Supply objective data from clinical and/or laboratory studies in compliance with IDA that support the product's safety, effectiveness and promotional claims.
  • Conduct clinical trials in strict compliance with IDA guidelines and procedures if required.
  • Provide evidence that manufacturing and laboratory facilities are properly supervised, and are adequate to ensure purity and uniformity of the product, and that the product is manufactured in compliance with good manufacturing practices.
  • Submit all product packaging and labelling for review and approval by IDA and comply with our standards for accuracy and truthfulness in advertising.

IDA Seal is usually awarded for a three-year period. Companies must reapply to continue using the Seal. Whenever the composition of an accepted product changes, the company must resubmit the product for review and approval before it is marketed with the Seal.

IDA’s Seal of Acceptance Programme guidelines are provided for informational purposes only and may be modified at any time. These provide a general overview of the programme; they do not govern a company’s rights to use the IDA Seal.

The IDA Seal of Acceptance is a registered certification mark of the association. All rights to use the IDA Seal are governed solely by a separate MOU between the IDA and the manufacturer or distributor of an accepted product. It can be used on or in connection with a product after the Seal of Acceptance has been given by the IDA Council on Seal of Acceptance and a MOU has been signed. Upon termination or expiration of the MOU, all rights of a company to use the IDA Seal cease.

Who can Apply

Products cleared by Food Safety and Standards Authority Govt. of India for direct sale, Indian Food and Drug Administration over- the- counter or exclusively through oral health care professionals are eligible to apply for IDA's Seal. The Council on IDA Seal evaluates consumer dental products that are employed in the treatment or prevention of dental disease. In addition, cosmetic agents may also be eligible for the Seal.

Commercial products are evaluated upon the request of a distributor or manufacturer, or the initiative of the Council. Products which meet the IDA Seal Programme’s Acceptance criteria with respect to public safety, efficacy, composition, labelling, package inserts, advertising, claims made by company and other promotional material will be granted the IDA Seal of Acceptance.

This will be formalised by executing the IDA Seal MOU agreement. The Council may require a company to use an authorised statement in conjunction with its use of the IDA Seal. Acceptance is renewable and may be reconsidered at any time. If there is a change in the manufacturer or distributor of a product, the Seal of Acceptance is withdrawn automatically and the MOU agreement expires.

Seal of Acceptance Guidelines

  • Established or Generic Names: The selection and use of established or generic names must confirm to the requirements of The Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
  • Trade Names: Proprietary names will be acceptable to the Council provided the names meet certain professional standards.
  • Misleading Names: Names which are misleading or which suggest diseases or symptoms will not be acceptable. This provision may not apply to certain biological products such as serums or vaccines.
  • Titles in Names: Products that include titles such as Doctor or Dentist or the designation B.D.S or M.D.S in the name of a product will not be acceptable.

Unacceptable product names (as determined by, but not limited to, the above criteria) must be revised before Acceptance.

  • Product Information : A company is required to provide a quantitative statement of composition, including ingredients, to the Council. For Oral Health Products, therapeutic agents, adequate information on the properties of all ingredients must be provided. For materials, instruments and equipment, a description of the materials used in the construction and the method of operation must be provided.

    Any change in the composition, nature or function of an accepted product must be submitted to the Council for review and approval before a modified product is marketed. A modified product is prohibited from using the IDA Seal unless and until it is approved by the Council.

  • Manufacturing Standards: The Company must provide evidence that manufacturing and laboratory control facilities are under the supervision of qualified personnel, assure purity, uniformity of products and are in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.

    The company must agree to permit representatives of the Council to visit laboratories and factories upon request If required. The manufacturer must conduct testing on a regular basis to determine continued compliance with the specification. Upon request of Council, the company must make these test records available to the Council.

  • Complying with Guidelines and /or Specifications:

    1. The company must provide evidence that a product demonstrates compliance with its relevant guideline and / or specification.
    2. The Council at any time and without notice to the company, may authorise the testing of such products.
    3. For products which fall under the scope of official IDA Specifications the following information must be submitted: (1) the serial or lot number; (2) the physical properties as obtained by standard test methods and (3) data covering every provision of the official specification. Responsibility for guarantying that the product complies with an official specification lies solely with the manufacturer and not with the Indian Dental Association.
    4. Test samples will be procured at the expense of the manufacturer or can be supplied by company. In the event that an accepted product fails to comply with the appropriate specification, the IDA Seal of Acceptance will be withdrawn from the product. The MOU agreement will terminate immediately and all rights of the company to use the IDA Seal will cease. All products that do not comply with the specification must be removed from the market. If the IDA Seal of Acceptance is withdrawn from a product, the product may be resubmitted at any time, provided adequate evidence of public safety and effectiveness is submitted for Council review.
  • Submission of Evidence: Evidence must be submitted pertaining to-actions, public safety and efficacy; and where applicable, mechanical and physical properties. Information on acceptable standard test methods for physical properties may be obtained from the IDA Council on Seal of Acceptance. In general, the data required on physical tests will include: methods, results, names of the observers, and dates of testing.
  • Nature of Evidence: The company must provide objective data from clinical and laboratory studies demonstrating safety and effectiveness. Evaluation of a product may also be based on similarity to a previously accepted product. Products that fall under the scope of an official IDA Specification will be tested for compliance by the IDA recommended laboratory. Test samples, unless otherwise indicated, will be procured on the open market at the expense of the manufacturer.
  • Supplemental Evidence: All proprietary studies for the product must be submitted. Additionally, the IDA may, through use of different laboratory facilities or use of other facilities, conduct any additional evaluation deemed necessary by the Council.
  • Post Marketing Surveillance: Any new information regarding safety and efficacy must be submitted as it becomes available. This evidence may be in the form of new clinical studies, reports of adverse reactions or follow-up investigations of previously submitted clinical studies.
  • Renewal of Acceptance: The company may be required to submit evidence demonstrating continued acceptable clinical performance of the product. This evidence may be in the form of new clinical and/or laboratory studies. reports of follow-up investigations of previously submitted clinical studies.
  • Disclosure: The company must disclose any past, present or anticipated financial arrangements between the investigators and the company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, consulting agreements, speakers’ fees, grants or contracts to conduct research, or membership on the company’s advisory committees including remuneration policies, or in the product that is the subject of the investigation.

    If the Council determines that the financial interests raise a question about the integrity, the Council may take any action it deems necessary to ensure the reliability of the data, including but not limited to requesting that the company submit further analysis; conduct additional independent studies.

Product must abide by all applicable laws and governmental regulations.
IDA is concerned about the negative environmental impact of non-biodegradable materials for the manufacture and packaging of disposable products. Therefore, IDA encourages all dental manufacturers, especially those with accepted products, to use, whenever possible, materials that are biodegradable and/or recyclable.
  1. Laboratory Testing
  2. Factory Inspection if required

Labelling, Package Inserts, Advertising and Other Promotional Material

  1. Name: The established or generic name of a product must be displayed in a prominent manner.
  2. Claims: Claims of significance to dentistry for a product must be clear and accurate.
  3. Packaging/Labelling: All packaging / labelling must be submitted to the Council for review and approval prior to use.
  4. Advertising: Advertising must conform to the IDA’s standards and certification mark usage guidelines. The IDA’s name, Seal and Seal Statement may appear in advertising and promotional materials, to include point-of- purchase. The Seal statement sets forth the basis for acceptance by the Council and must be used whenever the Seal is used, unless otherwise authorised by the Council.
  5. Disparagement of other products: Advertising of an accepted product must not result in the disparagement of other products.
  6. Implied Acceptance: An accepted product must not be advertised or displayed with unaccepted products in a manner that implies acceptance of the unaccepted product. This provision does not apply to conventional price lists or catalogues.
  7. Responsibility: The responsibility of providing substantiation of claims for Public safety and efficacy or claims of compliance with an official standard must reside with the manufacturer and not with the Indian Dental Association.
Changes to the IDA Seal of Acceptance Programme

The IDA reserves the right to make changes to the IDA Seal of Acceptance Programme at any time at its sole discretion. Such changes may include: Changes to the guidelines or specifications, testing criteria, license agreement or advertising standards. Note that in some instances, changes to the Programme may result in the permanent withdrawal of the IDA Seal from a product or product category. If the foregoing circumstance occurs, IDA will determine the date by which the MOU agreement will terminate and will notify affected companies accordingly. All rights of a company to use the IDA Seal will cease upon termination of the MOU agreement.

Withdrawal of Acceptance

The Council may on occasion find it necessary to permanently withdraw the IDA Seal of Acceptance from a product or product category. Such decisions may be made at any time at the sole discretion of the Council.

Any violation of the IDA Seal MOU agreement is grounds for Council’s withdrawal of the IDA Seal of product acceptance.

Confidentiality of Submission Material

It is the policy of the Indian Dental Association to treat the material submitted for Council review as confidential. Any confidential information submitted by a company should be marked as “confidential,” “proprietary” indicating it's confidential nature.

Although IDA utilises outside consultants in its review of products, IDA Seal Programme consultants are required to sign the IDA’s Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct requires the consultants to refrain from disclosing confidential product submission materials to anyone outside IDA. IDA refrains from voluntarily disclosing properly marked product submission materials to any third party without the prior consent of the manufacturer. IDA also takes steps to ensure that such materials are not disclosed or distributed by its employees, consultants or other agents. However, IDA will not be liable for any damages resulting from the acts or omissions of IDA consultants, including but not limited to their failure to abide by the Code of Conduct.

IDA does not treat as confidential any information that:
  • is or becomes a part of the public domain through no act or omission of IDA.
  • was in IDA’s lawful possession prior to the disclosure.
  • is lawfully disclosed to IDA by a third party without restriction on disclosure. or
  • is independently developed by IDA without use of or reference to the company’s Confidential Information.

Product Submission & Acceptance

Participation in the IDA Seal program is voluntary. Commercial products are evaluated upon the request of a distributor or manufacturer. Any company may submit appropriate products to the Council for consideration for Acceptance.

Companies pay administrative fee when they apply for the Seal to help to take care of the cost of evaluation. It may vary product to product.

Application Processing Fees are a one-time, non-refundable fee required with the application.

Endorsement Fees every year till three years by company.

Products which meet the IDA Seal Program’s criteria for Acceptance with respect to public safety, efficacy, composition, labelling, package inserts, advertising and other promotional material will be granted the IDA Seal of Acceptance.

Notification of a product’s Acceptance into the IDA’s Seal Program will be. A company may not begin use of the IDA Seal of Acceptance unless and until it has executed the IDA’s standard IDA Seal MOU agreement and complied with the IDA’s advertising requirements.

The Council may require a company to use an authorised statement in conjunction with its use of the IDA Seal. Acceptance is renewable and may be reconsidered after three year time. If there is a change in the manufacturer or distributor of a product, the Seal of Acceptance is withdrawn automatically and the MOU agreement expires simultaneously.