Following the announcement of the deferment of Sugar Order No. 6 — which mandates additional requirements for imports of sugar alternatives and other sugar-based products — the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, welcomed the decision of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Tuesday.

SRA chief Pablo Azcona said the suspension of the implementation was decided during the SRA Board meeting on 23 January, following strong opposition from some players in the sugar industry. The order was initially scheduled to take effect on 1 February.

“We are glad that the SRA has listened to and considered the concerns of the sugar manufacturers and acted immediately on the postponement of the order’s implementation,” PCCI President Eunina Mangio said in a statement.

An earlier roundtable discussion organized by the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry — which included food and beverage manufacturers, industry associations, and chambers of commerce — called on the SRA to conduct proper consultations with stakeholders and a Regulatory Impact Assessment before implementing any policy changes. The group also urged the SRA to align its regulations with the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s Ease of Doing Business mandate for “simplified, efficient, and transparent governance.”

Sugar Order scope

Sugar Order No. 6 regulates the importation of sugar and sugar confectionery products under tariff headings 1701, 1702, and 1704.

Affected goods under the 1701 tariff heading include sucrose, specialty sugar, and flavored syrup. Tariff heading 1702 covers “other sugars” such as lactose, glucose, maltose, maple syrup, honey, and caramel. Meanwhile, products under tariff heading 1704 refer to sugar confectionery items like chewing gum and white chocolate that do not contain cocoa.

Mangio acknowledged that while the intention of SO No. 6 is valid — aiming to protect local producers by strictly monitoring the entry of imported sugar-based products and alternatives — such regulatory measures should not negatively impact legitimate businesses within the industry.

“There will always be good results in open dialogues and proper consultations. The government and private sector should work together for the benefit of both the local farmers and consumers,” Mangio added.

Earlier, the SRA clarified that the order was designed for monitoring purposes, aiming to generate an accurate database on the entry of sugar-based products to improve the agency’s supply and demand planning, ultimately benefiting farmers and consumers.