SRA Suspends Sugar Order 6 Amid Industry Concerns

MANILA – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has temporarily suspended the implementation of Sugar Order 6 (SO 6) following pushback from industry stakeholders. The order imposes additional import clearance fees and requirements on sugar alternatives and sugar-based products.

Stakeholder Concerns & Industry Opposition

The suspension was decided during the SRA Board meeting on January 23, after industry groups raised concerns about its impact on importers and businesses. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has been tasked with facilitating further discussions.

The Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. (FPI) argued that if the SRA’s goal is simply to collect data, it can obtain the necessary information from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) rather than introduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. FPI also warned that SO 6 could lead to:
❌ Higher costs for businesses
❌ Increased prices for consumers
❌ Disruptions in the beverage, food, and confectionery industries

SRA’s Position

SRA chief Pablo Azcona dismissed fears of delays, stating that the agency processes over 1,000 sugar-related import clearances annually within an average of two to three working days.

“These fears are unfounded and speculative, as the order has not even been implemented yet,” Azcona said. He welcomed further discussions to address industry concerns.

Background on Sugar Order 6

SO 6 introduces an import clearance fee of P3.00 per 50-kilogram bag or P60.00 per metric ton for products like flavored syrups, lactose, glucose, maltose, honey, and caramel. Fructose is exempted from these charges.

The SRA has defended the order as a monitoring tool to improve supply and demand planning, benefiting both farmers and consumers.