Sugar millers back proposal to regulate artificial sweeteners

THE Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) said it supports proposed legislation to regulate synthetic sweeteners, saying the products pose risks to the competitiveness of the sugar industry.

In a statement over the weekend, the group said Senate Bill No. 2114, filed by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, and House Bill No. 9088, filed by Representative Javier Miguel L. Benitez, would help establish a “more balanced regulatory framework” for locally produced sugar.

The bills seek to amend Republic Act No. 10659, or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015.

“The continued and largely unregulated influx of synthetic sugar substitutes poses a growing threat to the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of the domestic sugar industry,” the PSMA said.

PSMA Executive Director Jesus L. Barrera said that, unlike synthetic sweeteners, sugar is subject to a comprehensive regulatory system governing supply allocation, warehousing, withdrawals, inter-island movement, and market distribution.

He added that sugar consumption in the Philippines is covered by recommended intake levels issued by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, while there are no comparable guidelines for synthetic sweeteners.

“There are currently no comparable consumption guidelines for chemical or synthetic sweeteners, despite growing international concern regarding their potential health implications, including those raised in the guidelines of the World Health Organization,” Mr. Barrera said.

The PSMA also reiterated that sugar imports should be allowed only when the domestic supply is insufficient to meet demand.

The group said policies aimed at strengthening domestic production and ensuring fair market conditions are necessary to protect the industry from market volatility, sustain rural livelihoods, and support food security. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel