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Santander has apologized and said it will pull its plantation white sugar off the local market.  That's the essence of a "mea-culpa" press release the company issued this evening.  
It says, quote, "Santander Sugar Ltd regrets the actions that led to the cease and desist letter issued by CEO of Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce…and hereby apologizes for this regrettable situation on behalf of our entire company…"

The release goes on to explain that much like ASR/BSI,  Santander has re-fitted its Factory to produce consumption grade brown and white sugar for the CARICOM market.   The company says it began to explore market opportunities in CARICOM, but, quote, "failed to realize that it needed an additional waiver for the local markets…"

The release continues, quote, "Unfortunately, and with regret, Santander Sugar Ltd. appointed a sole agent within Belize with the purpose to explore the local markets to determine if the new products…could capture markets based on colour and quality alone. A limited quantity of 204 Metric Tonnes of white sugar and 12.5 metric tonnes of brown sugar was sent to the distributor to test these markets as a market survey. The feedback we received from recipients was very favourable and we now have a better appreciation of what will sell in the CARICOM markets." End quote.
So, it was all a market experiment?  Ok, then…

Then, the company sheepishly adds, quote, "This marketing survey regrettably was conducted prior to the approval of the new EPZ that had been submitted. Santander Sugar Ltd. will comply with all local authorities and recall all the sugar that has been distributed thus far."  End quote.
Santander says it plans to continue, quote, "marketing efforts within Belize and the CARICOM."

The company has been forced into contrition after strong letters of caution from the ministry because it violated the terms of its EPZ license.  SANTANDER has a record of noncompliance with local regulations dating back to 2012 when - under the name Green Tropics - it dug a 4 mile long drainage trench in the Belize District Central corridor without an EIA.