| PHOTO: Official website of the Department of Agrarian Reform / dar.gov.ph
Sugar groups in the country are urging the government to address the unregulated entry and use of artificial sweeteners, warning that this would displace a substantial volume of sugar in the domestic market.
The Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (Nacusip) raised “serious concern” about “the importation and use of artificial sweeteners.”
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., sugar groups said the presence of artificial sweeteners sourced from abroad could result in the widespread displacement of sugarcane farm workers, sugar mill workers and biofuel workers and the degradation of the livelihood of families of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
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The Sugar Council and the Nacusip also said this could affect children and dependents of industry workers and small farmers, who enjoy scholarships and other socio-economic benefits under the Social Amelioration Program funded by liens from locally produced sugar.
“We seek your help in providing us data on the impact of artificial sweeteners on the consumption of locally produced sugar,” groups said.
“We need your help because we are aware that this issue on artificial sweeteners will involve other government agencies to which you have access,” it added.
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They also said sucralose, aspartame and acesulfame potassium—the most popular artificial sweeteners used in beverage manufacturing—are duty-free under the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Trade in Goods Agreement.
Artificial sweeteners that enjoy zero tariffs compromise the capability of the local industry to compete amid rising production costs, the groups said. INQ