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CHENGDU, Dec. 14 (NBD) -- China is to witness its salt industry reform which allows cross-region sales and setting prices hinge on market needs as starting from next year.

The implementation plans for salt industry reform in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland were all submitted, Zhao Chenxin, spokesman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) revealed on Tuesday.

The first batch of 13 provincial-level regions will probably be approved within one week as the plans have been transferred to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for progress.

Analysts pointed out that China is rich in salt and has seen oversupply in the past few years, with over 300 registered producers and 4,000 distributors. The move would make a lower price possible in a short run. From a long run, salt producers may be motivated to optimize product quality and sales patterns to meet the market demands.

Under the current system, Chinese companies are licensed to produce and distribute table salt under a national quota system.

In May, the State Council, China's Cabinet, announced a plan to reform the country's salt industry, in a bid to shake up "exclusive sales" pattern in salt industry, dismantling a system that has been in place for more than 2,000 years.

Editor: Li Jia