JPC to meet on Oct 9 over cola row

The Centre for Science and Environment which alleged that soft drinks brands in India contain high levels of pesticides, is scheduled to make a detailed presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Committee which may meet on October 9 and 10.

The JPC, set up to probe allegations of pesticides in soft drinks, has already expanded its ambit to cover all packed beverages, including iced tea, juices and even alcohol, during its initial meeting held last month.

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"The presentation will broadly cover regulations prevailing worldwide for water and finished products and pesticide contamination in beverages," a CSE spokesperson said, adding that the NGO was slated to appear before the JPC members on October 10.

Last month, the 15-member JPC headed by NCP leader Sharad Pawar deliberated on the scope of its probe and is expected to suggest safety standards for ground water, one of the principal ingredients in manufacture of all beverages, sources said.

During its first meeting, the JPC witnessed presentations from two laboratories which had earlier tested soft drink samples -- the Central Food Laboratory and the Central Food Technological Research Institute -- besides one from Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research chief R A Mashelkar on the testing methodology used for detection of pesticides.

It was set up in August to probe the reports of CSE that presence of high percentage of pesticide residues in Coca-Cola, Pepsi and ten other soft drink brands was harmful for health.