Sugar industry urges more controls on imports of artificial sweeteners

THE SUGAR industry is calling for more controls on imported artificial sweeteners to keep them from further crowding out domestically grown sugar in the markets.

In a joint statement, the Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines said sugar substitutes have displaces a substantial volume of sugar on the domestic market.

The most popular artificial sweeteners used in beverage manufacturing are Sucralose, Aspartame, and Acesulfame Potassium.

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority, the groups said imports of artificial sweeteners hit 1.1 million kilograms last year.

The groups urged the Department of Agriculture to release data on the impact of artificial sweeteners on the consumption of domestically grown sugar.

“(This would compromise) the ability of locally produced sugar to compete in the market, especially in the face of rising production costs,” the groups said.

It added that the unregulated imports could displace farm, mill, and biofuel industry workers.

Earlier, the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines called for the increased regulation of other sweeteners competing with cane sugar.

It noted that the entry of glucose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin and lactose is currently unregulated.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. ordered an investigation after meeting with the sugar industry.

Mr. Laurel ordered the Sugar Regulatory Administration to look into the actual volumes of other sweeteners and, if warranted, require them to acquire clearances as well. 

Under tariff code 17.02 of the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature, only high fructose corn syrup is regulated. Artificial sweeteners are admitted at zero tariff under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement. — Adrian H. Halili