• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has called for a review on the import volume and policies on the entry of artificial sweeteners into the country.
Lacson noted a steady increase in the volume of unregulated artificial sweeteners entering the country, wherein imports increased from 355,196 metric tons in 2021 to 448,499 metric tons in 2022.
The volume further rose to 473,029 metric tons in 2023, 493,048 metric tons in 2024, and 427,523 metric tons in 2025.
|For sugar-producing provinces like Negros Occidental, these volumes inevitably affect demand for locally produced sugar,” Lacson said.
He noted that this places pressure on prices and income across the value chain — from farmers and mill workers to transporters and small rural enterprises that depend on the industry.
|Alongside the economic impact, there is a public health aspect that warrants careful, science-based consideration, consistent with the principles upheld by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” Lacson said, adding that “certain artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, which is 600 times sweeter than natural sugar, are permitted for use within established safety limits”.
However, DOH and FDA aligned guidance consistently emphasizes the importance of moderation, proper labeling, and informed consumer choice, the governor said.
With the increasing presence of high-intensity sweeteners in the food supply, Lacson underscored the need to ensure that consumers are clearly informed through accurate labeling, products comply strictly with acceptable daily intake and safety standards, and the cumulative effects of widespread and long-term consumption, especially among children and vulnerable groups.
He also called on the national government and concerned agencies to ensure its proper classification, strengthen coordination among economic and health agencies, including the DOH and FDA, in assessing market and consumption impacts, adopt measures that support the continued viability of the local sugar industry while safeguarding consumer welfare.
“Protecting the sugar industry of Negros Occidental is inseparable from protecting rural livelihoods, food security, and public health. Through constructive dialogue and evidence-based policy action, we believe it is possible to strike a fair and sustainable balance that serves both producers and consumers,” he added. | GB
