CSE hails HC decision to review pesticide findings

The CSE welcomed the court decision calling for an expert panel to review the findings of pesticide residues in soft drinks.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Monday welcomed the decision of the Delhi High Court in response to a petition filed by PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd and others, calling for an expert committee to review the findings of pesticide residues in carbonated soft drinks.

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The experts' findings are to be made available in 3 weeks.

All sides agreed that the Government should choose the laboratories where the testing is done, and samples for testing should be picked up at random from the market, not provided by the company.

The court endorsed CSE's concern over the lack of standards for permissible pesticide residues in soft drinks sold in India. It has instructed the Government to review the standards after comparing with the standards that may exist in other parts of the world.

The PepsiCo petition, filed on Friday, questioned CSE's credibility and motivation, and made several unsubstantiated allegations, amounting to questioning the right of a public interest organisation to carry out such tests and make them public.

It refers to CSE as having "no legal authority or recognition". At the same time, it asserts the 'constitutional' right of the petitioners to continue to sell their products.