Sugar industry calls for regulation, tighter measures on sugar substitutes

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Sunday that they have recently received a manifesto from sugar federations all over the country calling for the regulation of artificial sweeteners and tighter measures on existing policies for other sugar substitutes that are affecting the demand for locally produced sugar cane. 

The manifesto, which was received last January 30, was forwarded by major sugar federations as well as sugar millers, refiners, and allied industry groups, the DA said. 

“After various consultative meetings with sugar industry stakeholders initiated by the DA and the SRA, the issue on artificial sweeteners has brought the sugar industry to a momentous unity,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel in a statement.

"We have received today, through the SRA, a manifesto asking the government to regulate the importation and use of artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes. The DA and SRA will surely work on this, as this is an extraneous force affecting the demand for locally produced sugar,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the SRA said that the issue has been raised with the provincial government of Negros Occidental and other localities. 

“We have brought this issue to the attention of all the stakeholders involved, and after meetings with leaders, I am very happy that everyone has come together for this common cause,” said SRA administrator Pablo Azcona. “It is probably one of the few times the stakeholders have one common stand, and the SRA will surely take action.”

The DA said that the issue raised by the sugar producers first came into light in 2024 after the department and the SRA flagged the threat of sugar substitutes to domestic sugar demand. 

The DA and SRA Board have closely monitored the importation of sugar substitutes since then. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News