Question : JPC REPORT ON SOFT DRINKS

(a) whether the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on pesticides in soft drinks had recommended to the Government to set new stringent standards for soft drinks;

(b) if so, the action taken/proposed to be taken to implement the same;

(c) whether the Government has set up a Pesticide Residues Sub-Committee;

(d) whether it has recommended that a nation-wide monitoring of soft-drinks for pesticides residue be undertaken; and

(e) if so, the purpose of fresh monitoring when JPC`s recommendations are there?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): A Notification has already been issued vide GSR No.388(E) dated 15.7.2004 whereby the standards of carbonated water prescribed under PFA Rules have been amended wherein water used in the preparation of carbonated water is required to conform to the standards prescribed for packaged drinking water under Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955.

(c): A Pesticide Residues Sub Committee already exists as a Technical Committee to guide the Central Committee for Food Standards (CCFS) on matters relating to pesticide residues in foods.

(d)&(e): The Pesticide Residues Sub-Committees at its meeting held on 24th June, 2004 recommended that in the light of the recommendations of JPC, the standards for carbonated beverages, which are best suited for the Indian conditions need to be fixed in the overall perspective of public health. These standards should also be sufficiently stringent.

For fixing MRLs on any agricultural commodity the pesticide residues data from supervised field trials as per the good agricultural practices has to be considered. However, in case of carbonated water such trials are not possible. Hence, after a great deal of deliberations by the Sub-committee on Pesticide Residues it was decided that there is a requirement for nation-wide monitoring data on pesticide residues in carbonated water for the purpose of fixation of MRLs.