Articles by 张德笔

Three Reasons for Salt Monopoly, Do You Know?

Click the image for details. 1 The biggest reason for the salt monopoly is 'universal iodine supplementation', but now those with excess iodine have to suffer from the single sale of iodized salt. China's current salt monopoly system is not necessarily as 'historically significant' as tracing back to Emperor Wu of Han's 'salt and iron monopoly'. Instead, it is quite 'young', starting with the salt iodization program in the 1990s. The first article of the 'Salt Monopoly Measures' issued by the State Council in 1996 states that these measures are formulated to strengthen salt management, ensure effective implementation of salt iodization, and protect citizens' health. Thus, ensuring salt iodization is the biggest reason for the monopoly.