trying to decipher what exactly means the information written in the
chinese tins i have:

æ*‡å‡†ä»£å�·: WMB48-81(1) [babelfish: standard code number]
so i thought it was the code of the tea, the product, a code that make
it unique to find it better in a list...

but entering this letters and numbers [WMB48-81(1)] in google arrived
to this chinese web:
http://www.51st.cn/Webs/Skill/Show_Skill.asp?ID=4, in chinese

translating with babelfish [it's what i have at hand] i guess it's in
fact one of the standards used to regulate crops in relation with the
environmental damages they may cause. i understood that. so, in general
this web talks about tea gardens standards in Hubei province.

i thought it was at least curious to know. don't know if they are
strict environmental proctecting rules or what, in fact... but kept my
attention this was written in the tin as information to the comsumer.

another code in the tin:
�生��: (94)弟17-0021� [�生��: Hygienic card number]
could be a code for the firm that permits to handle foods? in spain we
have a thing called "registro sanitario" [health registry, or something
like that] like a registration number or license, one per firm. how is
it called in the us or other places?

reagards from madrid,
bonifacio barrio hijosa
http://worldoftea.webcindario.com/
.... site in progress

I always assumed the Chinese were pretty ruthless, and would use pretty
much any pesticides, toxic petrochemicals, etc. to meet their
agricultural quotas, esp. in items to be sold to foreign devils. As
such, this has been a nagging worry when I drink--as I mostly
do--Chinese tea. I suppose I am pleasantly surprised that something as
touchy-feely as environmental standards are even in their vocabulary.

bbh2o wrote:
> trying to decipher what exactly means the information written in the
> chinese tins i have:
>
> æ*‡å‡†ä»£å�·: WMB48-81(1) [babelfish: standard code number]
> so i thought it was the code of the tea, the product, a code that make
> it unique to find it better in a list...
>
> but entering this letters and numbers [WMB48-81(1)] in google arrived
> to this chinese web:
> http://www.51st.cn/Webs/Skill/Show_Skill.asp?ID=4, in chinese
>
> translating with babelfish [it's what i have at hand] i guess it's in
> fact one of the standards used to regulate crops in relation with the
> environmental damages they may cause. i understood that. so, in general
> this web talks about tea gardens standards in Hubei province.
>
> i thought it was at least curious to know. don't know if they are
> strict environmental proctecting rules or what, in fact... but kept my
> attention this was written in the tin as information to the comsumer.
>
> another code in the tin:
> �生��: (94)弟17-0021� [�生��: Hygienic card number]
> could be a code for the firm that permits to handle foods? in spain we
> have a thing called "registro sanitario" [health registry, or something
> like that] like a registration number or license, one per firm. how is
> it called in the us or other places?
>
> reagards from madrid,
> bonifacio barrio hijosa
> http://worldoftea.webcindario.com/
> ... site in progress

Here is a Google translation link of an overview of Chinese tea
standards:
http://tinyurl.com/osdoh

This is a Google translation link of National and Industry Chinese tea
standards:
http://tinyurl.com/me5r6

Several of my puers have the two fields you mention. The first field
is a production standard. In this case it is GB/T9833.2 meaning it is
a black brick. The second field is health or hygienic. From the above
table it is GB9679:
http://tinyurl.com/je49s

So in general none of the standards are a 'company license', In the
US you might need a license to do business in certain areas but it is a
governmental regulation and has nothing to do with the standards perse
except to the extent the company complies with the standards.

Jim

bbh2o wrote:
> trying to decipher what exactly means the information written in the
> chinese tins i have:
>
> æ*‡å‡†ä»£å�·: WMB48-81(1) [babelfish: standard code number]
> so i thought it was the code of the tea, the product, a code that make
> it unique to find it better in a list...
>
> but entering this letters and numbers [WMB48-81(1)] in google arrived
> to this chinese web:
> http://www.51st.cn/Webs/Skill/Show_Skill.asp?ID=4, in chinese
>
> translating with babelfish [it's what i have at hand] i guess it's in
> fact one of the standards used to regulate crops in relation with the
> environmental damages they may cause. i understood that. so, in general
> this web talks about tea gardens standards in Hubei province.
>
> i thought it was at least curious to know. don't know if they are
> strict environmental proctecting rules or what, in fact... but kept my
> attention this was written in the tin as information to the comsumer.
>
> another code in the tin:
> �生��: (94)弟17-0021� [�生��: Hygienic card number]
> could be a code for the firm that permits to handle foods? in spain we
> have a thing called "registro sanitario" [health registry, or something
> like that] like a registration number or license, one per firm. how is
> it called in the us or other places?
>
> reagards from madrid,
> bonifacio barrio hijosa
> http://worldoftea.webcindario.com/
> ... site in progress

Hola!

"bbh2o"
æ*‡å‡†ä»£å�·: WMB48-81(1) [babelfish: standard code number]

I think a more apt translation of that is 'code number for standardized
product'. What happens is this: before a product can be launched onto
the market in China or before export, a standardized sample of this
product has to be sent to the related authorities for approval. A
detailed description of the product is carefully archived, including
samples or pictures of it. In the event that there is any deviation in
the licenced product in the future which might resulted in a consumer
complaint, or the producer found to be negligent, the authorities can
investigate into the matter with the detailed information of the
product as comparison.

This code number has a limited validity of usually 5 years, after which
the company will need to submit another sample for inspection and the
specs detailed.

�生��: (94)弟17-0021� [�生��: Hygienic card number]

is as you have mentioned, a "registro sanitario".


Danny

thanks very much for the answers, learning a bit more everyday

about the samples, it seem to be a great way of having a whole sight of
tea production.

regards from madrid,
bonifacio barrio hijosa
http://worldoftea.webcindario.com/
....site in progress

Danny wrote:
> Hola!
>
> "bbh2o"
> æ*‡å‡†ä»£å�·: WMB48-81(1) [babelfish: standard code number]
>
> I think a more apt translation of that is 'code number for standardized
> product'. What happens is this: before a product can be launched onto
> the market in China or before export, a standardized sample of this
> product has to be sent to the related authorities for approval. A
> detailed description of the product is carefully archived, including
> samples or pictures of it. In the event that there is any deviation in
> the licenced product in the future which might resulted in a consumer
> complaint, or the producer found to be negligent, the authorities can
> investigate into the matter with the detailed information of the
> product as comparison.
>
> This code number has a limited validity of usually 5 years, after which
> the company will need to submit another sample for inspection and the
> specs detailed.
>
> �生��: (94)弟17-0021� [�生��: Hygienic card number]
>
> is as you have mentioned, a "registro sanitario".
>
>
> Danny

There are no real standards for anything here in China regarding tea
anymore. Everything, special number or tea grade, can be bought with
enough money. You can't assume that this sort of licensing or coding
is used for every tea factory. It may be just something that they
printed on the tin for their own cataloguing purposes.