Beyond the Label: Securing China's Salt Supply Chain

At the recent Security Document Summit in Beijing, Henan Province Wellking Technologies, a member of the International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA), shared a case study about protecting China’s edible salt supply chain. This example highlights how the success of the updated national salt authentication program relies not just on technology but also on implementation and industry standards.

China’s edible salt industry shows this well. Edible salt is one of the most widely used staples in the country, with c. 79 million tonnes consumed in 2024. In such a large market, making sure products are genuine and the supply chain is secure is crucial.

China has used anticounterfeiting labels on salt for many years. But before 2021, manufacturers used different label designs and security features. Wellking says this caused three main problems: inconsistent security standards, widespread counterfeiting, and limited regulatory oversight. Consumers also found it difficult to distinguish genuine products from fake ones.