The Sugar Regulatory Administration committed to issue a sugar order to regulate the entry of sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners during a House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing in Quezon City on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Rep. Emilio “Dino” Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) said the number and variety of artificial sweeteners entering the market has expanded beyond high-fructose corn syrup and premixes.
Yulo said sweeteners such as sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin, among others, should be regulated because local farmers are affected whenever these products enter the country.
He said the SRA committed to issue a sugar order covering four types of artificial sweeteners to begin regulation as soon as possible.
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing was conducted to hear the concerns of various stakeholders and agencies.
It was also held to get an update from the Sugar Regulatory Administration on sugar importation and to come up with measures to address concerns of the sugar industry.
Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said the next hearing should include traders, importers, and industry partners whom he described as missing in the initial discussions.
The committee’s recommendations will be reflected in its report and could be translated into legislation if the House and Senate act on them, Benitez said.
He said Congress can only recommend actions to the executive branch and that amendments may move either through the SRA or Malacañan.
Benitez said he wants to hear directly from importers and industry partners to determine if import volumes match local production, local demand, and consumption.*
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