SUGAR PRODUCERS said on Wednesday that the Department of Agriculture (DA) needs to regulate imports of other sweeteners that compete with cane sugar.
In a statement, the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) said the entry of glucose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin and lactose is currently unregulated.
UNIFED added that the volume of other sweeteners being shipped amounts to 100,000 to 200,000 metric tons per year.
“This volume of sugar premixes (is equivalent to) about 4 million bags of sugar (valued at) roughly P10 billion, and the continued lack of regulation for these sugar-based products is highly detrimental to the sugar industry,” UNIFED President Manuel R. Lamata said.
Mr. Lamata added that the increased shipments of these products may have caused the stagnation in sugar prices.
“This is probably why demand for sugar has remained constant in the last 10 years or so despite the growth of the population,” he said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. has ordered an investigation after meeting with the sugar industry.
He ordered the Sugar Regulatory Administration to look into the actual volumes of other sweeteners and, if warranted, require them to acquire clearances as well.
“If this is not addressed, then the sugar industry will be paying a hefty price along with the five million Filipinos dependent on the industry,” Mr. Lamata said.
Code 17.02 of the Asean Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature sets tariffs only for high fructose corn syrup. — Adrian H. Halili
