Importers of sugar submitted a grievance to His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Trade, Muhammad Al-Ashwal, regarding new standards imposed by the General Authority for Standardization and Quality Control.

Importers expressed their dissatisfaction with the imposition of standards that they considered to increase the costs of the commodity and encourage monopoly by some companies, stressing that these standards do not add any health or nutritional benefits to the product, but rather increase the cost to the Yemeni consumer.

The importers explained that they rely on leading international companies to produce sugar with specifications internationally recognized by the World Health Organization.

They pointed out that the quality of sugar (WHITE SUGAR 150 ICUMSA) is considered one of the finest types and most suitable for human use, stressing that this type does not contain chemicals and can be stored for a long period, which makes it compatible with global health requirements.

They indicated that the new standards imposed by the General Authority for Standardization and Quality Control were not subject to any legal justification and would reflect negatively on the life of the citizen and greatly double his living suffering.

In conclusion, the importers stressed the need to respect international specifications and avoid imposing local standards that serve the interests of certain companies at the expense of the health and economy of the Yemeni citizen.

These illegal procedures are one of the reasons causing the decline in the activity of the port of Aden and the decrease in customs revenues from the free zone.