The 2006 China International Tea Exposition will be held at Pazhou Zhongzhou International Business Display Center in Guangzhou from November 23rd to the 27th.

Guangdong Tea Procession Association's Secretary General, Zhang Liming, announced the Expo to the press yesterday (Nov 15). Over 400 companies from around the country will bring more than one thousand different kinds of tea products to the Expo.

Zhang added that China will enforce the Quality Standard (QS) certificate system in tea products beginning January 1 next year. The QS certificate has strict hygiene and quality requirements in the tea production and distribution process. Zhang believes the move will ensure much safer tea products for the public, but she is also concerned that some small and medium sized tea producers may not catch up with the QS certificate requirement within such a rigid time frame.