(a) whether the Government proposes to impose ban on sale of aerated/carbonated soft drinks of several brands at various public and private resorts and Government establishment/offices and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether lead and other harmful heavy metals were found in these soft drinks in certain parts of the country, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto; and
(c) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
(a): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have informed that no such proposal is under their consideration.
(b): As informed by FSSAI, the standard of carbonated water is notified in sub-regulation 2.10.6 (1) of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
All beverages including carbonated beverages are required to conform to the specifications laid down in Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The tolerance limits for metal contaminant in carbonated water have been prescribed in Regulation 2.1.1 (2) of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
No separate data with respect to soft drinks are being maintained centrally by FSSAI. However, as per the information available from State/UT Governments, the details of samples collected, tested, found not conforming and action taken during of the year 2015-16 in respect of all food articles, including soft drinks, is enclosed at Annexure-I.
(c): As informed by FSSAI, the implementation and enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 primarily rests with the State/UT Governments.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regularly takes up the issue of enforcement of the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with the State/UT authorities, through communications and interactions during the meetings of the Central Advisory Committee (which comprises of the Commissioners of Food Safety of all states and UTs) for effective implementation of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products are also being done by the Officials of Food Safety Departments of the respective States /UTs to check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations made thereunder. In cases where the food samples are found to be non-conforming, recourse is taken to penal provisions under Chapter IX of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.