The company Maquila Lama is opposed to the decree which is aiming to amend a regulation on sugar fortification promoted by the Ministry of Health, arguing that besides being discriminatory, it could restrict imports of the product from Brazil and any other country of origin.

A statement issued by Maquila Lama notes that "... The reform was sent last week for consultation with some business chambers. The text states that imported sugar for direct or end consumption must arrive from the country of origin in a fortified format, and that any unfortified product entering the country, may not be fortified for direct sale in Costa Rica under any circumstances."

From the statement:

In the view of representatives of Maquila Lama, with this urgent modification, the only objective is to accentuate the monopoly held by Liga Agrícola Industrial de la Caña de Azúcar (LAICA) in the sugar market, by prohibiting this process being carried out on national soil, as the domestic industry currently does.
"It is a measure that reflects a clear restriction on trade and violation of the principle of non-discrimination and national treatment and only promotes the interests of LAICA" said the general manager Maquila Lama, Juan Carlos Sandoval.

More on this topic

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EDITORIAL

A statement issued by the Industrial Sugarcane Agricultural League (LAICA) abounds in views on the relevance of sugar fortification -which nobody questions-, and on the supposed benefits that the company brings to the Costa Rican consumers, including " stable prices. "