The Joint Parliamentary Committee probing allegations of pesticides in beverages is believed to have suggested adoption of international 'Codex' and other higher norms for water used in making carbonated soft drinks, while maintaining that the Centre for Science and Environment should have got its results validated by accredited laboratories.
Soft drinks, hard truths: Complete coverage
In its 600-page report, which is expected to be submitted to the Parliament next week, the committee noted that a variety of pesticides had been used in India for several years, in agriculture as well as in health programmes, sources said in New Delhi on Thursday.
While appreciating the role of CSE in bringing the pesticide issue to the forefront, the report appears to have criticised the government for its knee-jerk reaction in issuing a draft notification for European Union-based norms.
"We, in the report, have tried to draw the attention of the government to the health aspects," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam, who is a member of the JPC, said.
On the CSE's findings, according to which Coca Cola's and Pepsi's soft drinks contained dangerous levels of pesticides, Nirupam said the NGO was doing a good job and efforts had been made to address its concerns.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the report, instead of merely upbraiding the government for not taking preventive measures, will recommend practical measures.
The report has pulled up the health ministry for not taking action against the cola companies for their advertisements claiming their products are pesticide-free, which is in clear violation of the Food Adulteration Act.
The JPC report would also call for expeditiously putting in place "world class" quality norms for finished cola drinks and not merely the water that was utilised, the sources said.
In the event of implementation of the recommendation, India might well be the first country to set norms for individual constituents in soft drinks, the sources said.
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