Laurent Munerot, President of the UNPPD (France's national union of dental laboratory employers), used a France Info interview to argue that European dental laboratories must actively resist the expansion of low-cost prosthesis imports rather than treat the trend as unavoidable. His remarks come after the French Senate held a formal question session on 10 February 2026 addressing the relocation of dental prosthesis production to China, a sign that the issue has moved beyond professional associations into national policy debate.

Munerot rejected the argument that WTO rules and EU free movement of goods make intervention impossible. He pointed out that the French dental laboratory sector employs around 18,000 people and holds internationally recognised technical expertise. Once that capacity is dismantled, he argued, it cannot easily be rebuilt. He also challenged the assumption that cheaper imports reduce costs for patients. Because dentists, not patients, select prosthesis suppliers, the price difference between domestic and imported products may not reach the patient at all.

For dental professionals across Europe, the debate touches on supply chain transparency, traceability, and the long-term availability of high-quality laboratory partnerships. The French Senate exchange, in which a government minister responded directly to questions about Chinese dental imports, suggests that regulatory or procurement measures may follow. Laboratories and clinicians operating in markets where import pressure is growing should monitor how French and EU policy responses develop.