Annex
ISOGLUCOSE
Isoglucose is not a chemical sweetener but is
a natural sweetener made out of wheat or maize. It is a liquid
sweetener very similar to invert sugar and is used in the food
industry for decades.
Isoglucose is the only cereal sweetener that
is restricted by a production quota in the framework of the sugar
regime since 1969. This quota represents only approximately 3%
of the sugar market, which means 500,000 tonnes in EU-25.
Its production was put under quota because in
the late 70s, it was produced from imported US maize. The starch
industry now uses almost exclusively European cereals.
In the Commission impact study of 2003, it was
mentioned that,
"In the EU, isoglucose has the potential
to win a maximum of 30 to 40% of total market share ie a total
of 5 million tonnes of isoglucose in an EU of 15 members (6 million
for an EU of 25)."
We estimate isoglucose production will increase
but up to more or less 3-4 million tonnes over 10-15 years. Apart
from the US, where the sugar price is high and maize prices are
very low (resulting in 50% of isoglucose share of total sweeteners),
in other countries, the share of isoglucose is mostly around 20%.
The isoglucose market will never develop to
such levels in the EU, since the market structure, the demand
and the pattern of consumption are fundamentally different.
Furthermore, isoglucose is a technical product
requiring consumer tests, plant approval procedures from the customers,
etc. Hence, this market cannot be developed overnight.
Starting from the current insignificant level
of approximately 3% of the sugar market, there is room for increasing
isoglucose production in the EU market.
British Starch Industry Association
September 2005
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