<strong>China: STMA Reports Results of Sample Survey of Cigarette Quality</strong>

Source from:  eastobacco.com 07/23/2014

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) -- the regulator of China's tobacco industry -- issued a report on July 8 on the results of sample survey of the quality of cigarette products in conducting market supervision for the first half of 2014.

The report indicated that the survey covered cigarette products of 211 specifications of 57 brands made by 25 tobacco manufacturing enterprises across China, with all the cigarette products surveyed meeting the relevant standards in terms of general quality.

The report included an analysis of the quality of cigarettes surveyed, in terms of the quality of mainstream cigarette smoke, sensory quality in smoking appraisal, the quality of packing and rolling, the quality of products of key brands, etc.

Judged by the analysis of the quality of mainstream cigarette smoke, the tar level, the content of nicotine in smoke and the content of carbon monoxide in smoke of cigarettes basically remained stable, with remarkable improvement of accuracy in tar level control.

judged by the analysis of the smoking appraisal, the sensory quality of cigarette products generally remained stable, with comfortableness increasing to some extent over the 2013 level. In particular, the sensory quality of Grade One and Grade Two cigarettes improved to some extent, with both the quality and quantity of aroma remaining stable, and with the styles of products remaining remarkable.

Judged by the analysis of the quality of packing and rolling, a total 39 specifications won a full score in terms of packing and rolling quality. The symbol grades of cigarette products of all specifications and bar codes on packets and cartons were all found to be in conformity with the relevant technical requirement. The quality of cigarette products of key brands was generally in a favorable situation, according to the report.

The report required all tobacco manufacturing enterprises to pay particular attention to stability of the quality of Grade Three cigarette products and maintenance of their styles and characteristics, while improving the structure of their cigarette products; to strictly control the quality of both packaging and cigarette making, and standardize both marks and warning signs on packaging, to ensure that their cigarette products were up to standards by 100 percent; to earnestly find out current problems existing in terms of single indexes; and to adopt practical and effective measures to strengthen quality control and ensure remarkable improvement of the quality of their cigarette products. Enditem