The local sugar industry is calling on the government to tighten regulations on the importation of artificial sweeteners, claiming these products are increasingly pushing locally grown sugar out of the market, reported BusinessWorld.
In a statement released together, the Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines pointed out that sugar substitutes have already displaced a large amount of locally produced sugar. Popular sweeteners like Sucralose, Aspartame, and Acesulfame Potassium are frequently used in the beverage industry.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that 1.1 million kilograms of artificial sweeteners were imported last year. The groups are pressing the Department of Agriculture to release data on how these imports are affecting the consumption of domestic sugar.
“Without regulation, these imports make it hard for locally produced sugar to compete, especially with rising production costs,” the groups said. They also expressed concern that the influx of artificial sweeteners could lead to job losses in farming, milling, and the biofuel industry.
Earlier, the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines made a similar call for more oversight on other sweeteners like glucose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin, and lactose, which currently enter the country without restrictions.
In response, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. has ordered an investigation into the actual volumes of these sweeteners being imported. He also directed the Sugar Regulatory Administration to consider requiring clearances for these products.
Currently, only high fructose corn syrup is regulated under the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff system, while other artificial sweeteners are allowed to enter the country without tariffs under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.
