The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is finalizing an order aimed at collecting data on the entry of alternative sweeteners into the country.
The agency said the data would track the volumes of “other sugars” for future policy decisions.
This follows reports of rising volume of artificial sweeteners which compete with locally-produced sugar.
SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona in a briefing on Tuesday clarified government will not control or regulate the entry of imported sugar alternatives.
“We want everybody to get an import clearance and have the accurate numbers. Right now, we are basing our numbers from the Customs and from personal interviews so it is hard,” Azcona said.
Local sugar stakeholders have earlier cited the possible negative effects of the unregulated entry and use of artificial sweeteners in the country which displace sugar produced locally.
The three most popular artificial sweeteners used in beverage manufacturing are sucralose, aspartame and acesulfame potassium which are also cheaper than refined sugar. These enjoy zero tariff under the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement which further compromises the ability of locally produced sugar to compete in the market, especially in the face of rising production costs.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, prevailing retail price as of last Tuesday ranges from P74 to P90 per kg for refined sugar and P68 to P85 per kg for both washed sugar and brown sugar.
