The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has issued a sugar order amending the rules on the collection of liens from premix commodities containing sweeteners.
Sugar Order (SO) number 10 series of 2022-2023 crafted last July but was only released on Tuesday, included a sample computation and an updated list of commodities governed by the issuance.
This sample computation on the liens will be explicit to ensure payment of appropriate taxes.
SRA said importers or consignees of premix commodities must apply with the agency for a premix commodity release clearance (PCRC), prior to the withdrawal of stocks from the Bureau of Customs.
Premix items affected by the SO include preparation of kind used as raw material for the manufacture of composite concentrates; composite concentrates for simple dilution with water to make beverage; alcoholic preparations of a kind used for the making or the manufacture of beverages; and mixtures of chemicals with foodstuffs or other substances with nutritive value used for food processing, among others.
The SO also identified flavored or colored syrups; flavoring preparations; whey and modified whey whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter; sugar syrups; gelatin; sugar confectionery; cocoa powder; blocks, slabs and bars of chocolate confectionery; and tablets or pastilles of chocolate confectionery to be ruled by the issuance.
Prior to the issuance of the PCRC, importers and consignees of a premix commodity must pay liens which are dependent on the sweetener content of a product.
SO 10 said for a premix containing over 65 percent of dry weight sugar, the payment is equivalent to the net weight of the commodity multiplied by P37.75 per 50 kilograms.
Apremix item containing 65 percent and below of dry weight sugar must pay for the net weight of the product multiplied by P11.90 per kg and multiplied by the sucrose content of the commodity.
Premix which contains zero or non-traceable sucrose content is levied a nominal fee per application of P300.
SO 10 also no longer requires clearance for fortificant premixes; supplements based on ginseng; and other food supplements, citing that previous laboratory results have shown that their sucrose content was very minimal or non-traceable. -Jed Macapagal
