Trade, industry and competition minister Ebrahim Patel. Picture: BLOOMBERG/WALDO SWIEGERS
During a parliamentary question and answer session on Tuesday, trade, industry and competition minister Ebrahim Patel said the industry master plan will soon be gazetted, giving effect to some of the proposed measures to stabilise the sector.“On the growth side is the concern that demand is shrinking because of decline in consumption ...
“We sat down with key role-players and bigger users of sugar, such as beverage makers, and we have an in-principle agreement for them to buy more local sugar, as well as give an opportunity for the deeper restructuring of the sector,” Patel said. The government introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in April 2018 as part of its efforts to improve the health of South Africans, and reduce the related cost implications for the public and private healthcare systems.