China has proposed tightening the range of allowable iodine fortification in its iodized salt from 20-60 ppm to 20-30 ppm, CRIEnglish.com has reported. Public comments will be accepted until September 12.

The ministry said earlier this month iodized salt was still essential in China as benefits of it still outweighed the negatives, citing the results of a nationwide risk assessment on iodine intake. Iodine intake was "excessive" in five provinces and "above normal" in 16 other provinces, although the national level was "acceptable," the ministry said Monday in a statement explaining the revisions.