GB5606.4-2005
Cigarettes-Technical Requirements for Sense Evaluation
卷烟 第4部分:感官技术要求
GB 5606.4-2005 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Cigarettes-Technical Requirements for Sense Evaluation. It appears in the Food compliance cluster with a product safety 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 5606.4-2005 applies to the sensory quality evaluation of cigarettes across various flavor styles. It establishes the technical requirements, testing methods, and inspection rules specifically for the sensory evaluation of cigarette products. This standard is mandatory for all cigarette manufacturers operating in or exporting to the Chinese market. It references GB/T 5606.1 for sampling procedures and GB/T 16447 for atmospheric conditioning during testing.
Technical requirements
This standard specifies the sensory quality evaluation criteria for cigarettes, categorizing attributes into six key dimensions: gloss, aroma, harmony, offensive taste, irritancy, and after taste. Each attribute is assigned a maximum score, and the overall sensory quality is graded into three tiers (Tier I, II, and III) based on specific descriptive indicators. A major requirement is the classification of cigarettes by price categories (Class 1, Class 2 & 3, and Class 4 & 5), with each category requiring a specific minimum total score to pass. For instance, Class 1 cigarettes must meet a higher threshold compared to lower-tier classes. The standard strictly defines Class A quality defects (severe defects). A product is deemed non-compliant if its sensory score falls below the minimum threshold for its respective price category, or if it exhibits obvious off-odor or moldy characteristics. Any presence of a Class A defect automatically renders the entire batch unqualified.
Testing methods
Sensory evaluation is conducted using a blind evaluation scoring method. Samples are drawn according to GB/T 5606.1 and must be moisture-conditioned per GB/T 16447 prior to testing. The evaluation requires a panel of no fewer than seven trained assessors. Scores are recorded in 0.5-point increments, and the final result is calculated as the sum of the average scores for each individual attribute. Manufacturers must ensure their testing panels strictly adhere to this statistical calculation method to determine final compliance.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 5606.4-2005?
The standard applies to all types of cigarettes with various flavor styles. It evaluates their sensory quality based on a 100-point scale across six attributes: gloss, aroma, harmony, offensive taste, irritancy, and after taste.
Are there any significant updates from the previous version, GB 5606.4-1996?
The main updates include the cancellation of the previous cigarette type classification, the introduction of price categories (Class 1 to Class 5) with specific minimum score requirements for each, and adjustments to the scoring weights of individual sensory attributes.
How does GB 5606.4-2005 differ from international ISO standards for tobacco?
While the standard references GB/T 16447 for atmospheric conditioning (which is identical to ISO 3402:1999), the actual sensory evaluation methodology is a specific Chinese panel-based scoring system. It requires a panel of at least seven trained evaluators using a blind-tasting scoring method.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 5606.4-2005. To ensure complete compliance for your tobacco 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 5606.4-2005 today to access all detailed scoring parameters, evaluation tables, and testing 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 5606.4-1996