GB5606.2-2005
Cigarettes-mark
卷烟 第2部分:包装标识
GB 5606.2-2005 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Cigarettes-mark. It appears in the Food compliance cluster with a labeling & classification focus and has an implementation date of Jan 1, 2006.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
GB 5606.2-2005 specifies the requirements, test methods, and inspection rules for cigarette packaging marking (labels and identifiers). This standard applies to all cigarette products manufactured, sold, or distributed within the Chinese market. It covers marking requirements for all levels of packaging, including master cartons (boxes), cartons (strips), and individual packs. This standard is mandatory for all cigarette manufacturers and does not apply to other tobacco products such as cigars or cut rag.
Technical requirements
The standard mandates that all cigarette packaging markings must use standardized Chinese characters that are clear, durable, and easily identifiable. Manufacturers must display the legally registered enterprise name and province/city of origin. The use of misleading descriptors such as “healthcare,” “therapeutic,” “safe,” “environmental,” “light,” or “mild” is strictly prohibited on packaging and inserts. Product barcodes must comply with GB 12904 and be accurately readable. For master cartons (boxes), the standard requires explicit labeling of cigarette quantity (in sticks), carton dimensions, cigarette specifications (length and circumference), brand name, manufacturer address, production date, price category, execution standard number, and production license number. Appropriate storage and transportation safety marks must also be present. For cartons and individual packs, the standard requires the trademark with registration mark, enterprise name, cigarette quantity, and barcode. Critically, packs must display tar yield, nicotine yield, and carbon monoxide yield in milligrams, with text font height no less than 2.0 mm and clear contrast against the background color. Health warning statements must be prominently displayed with a minimum Chinese font height of 2.0 mm. The standard classifies packaging marking quality defects into Category A (critical) and Category B (minor) defects. Non-compliance with core requirements—such as enterprise naming, barcode readability, tar/nicotine/CO labeling, and health warnings—constitutes a Category A defect. Any single Category A defect results in automatic batch disqualification with a zero score. Category B defects are scored on a 100-point deduction system.
Testing methods
Sampling is conducted in accordance with GB/T 5606.1 (Cigarettes - Part 1: Sampling) to prepare laboratory samples and test specimens. Physical packaging marking tests are performed following the procedures outlined in YC/T 28.1 (Determination of Physical Properties of Cigarettes - Part 1: Packaging). The inspection evaluates the presence, accuracy, legibility, and formatting of all required markings across boxes, strips, and packs, with defects categorized and scored according to the standard's defined rules.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 5606.2-2005?
GB 5606.2-2005 applies exclusively to cigarette products sold in China. It regulates the packaging markings on master cartons, cartons, and individual cigarette packs. It does not apply to other tobacco products such as cigars or pipe tobacco.
Is GB 5606.2-2005 a mandatory or voluntary standard?
GB 5606.2-2005 is a mandatory national standard. It was upgraded from the previous recommended standard GB/T 5606.2-1996. All technical content in this standard is mandatory for cigarette manufacturers. Non-compliance can result in batch rejection.
What are the key changes from the previous version GB/T 5606.2-1996?
The main changes include: the standard was changed from recommended to mandatory; general conditions were modified; carbon monoxide yield labeling requirements were added; inspection rules were introduced; and storage/transportation requirements were moved to GB 5606.3.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 5606.2-2005. To ensure complete compliance for your cigarette products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 5606.2-2005 today to access all detailed marking requirements, defect classification tables, and inspection procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Product
- CCS
- X87
- ICS
- 65.160
- Competent department
- State Tobacco Monopoly Administration
- Technical committee
- National Technical Committee on Tobacco of Standardization Administration of China
Relationships
Replaces:GB/T 5606.2-1996