'Soft drinks comply with stringent norms'

New Delhi: The proposed Food Regulatory Authority will have provisions for consumers to file complaints on the quality of processed food items, including soft drinks, Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahai on Wednesday said.

“The new food bill has a provision for consumers to lodge complaints to the Authority about the quality of the processed food items including soft drinks," Sahai said reacting to the findings of a study by NGO Centre for Science and Environment, which said popular soft drinks contained pesticides.

Meanwhile, taking strong exception to the CSE statement over the safety of soft drinks, the Indian Soft drink Manufacturers Association (ISDMA) assured that the drinks are completely safe and comply with stringent international norms.

"Consumer safety is paramount to us. The soft drinks manufactured in India comply with stringent international norms and all applicable national regulations," an ISDMA statement said.

Citing that over the past three years, the soft drink industry has worked with the Government, scientific community and NGO's to establish stringent science-based norms, the association said, "These efforts of the Government have led to establishment of stricter norms that are at par with the best in the world."

However, Sahai said that the Authority would ensure scientific testing at accredited labs, and if the charges are proved, the manufacturer would be penalised.

"Action would be taken as per the existing provision under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act," the minister said.

The provision of penalty ranges from Rs 1 lakh to 7 lakh, he said.

However, the PFA Act of 1955 has been harmonised in Food Safety and Standards Bill, 2005, which has been passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The Bill would eventually pave the way for an Integrated Food Law and thereby create a Food Regulatory Authority of India, which would govern the food-processing sector.

Sahai also said that the CSE study has not revealed the basis of its study, which is yet to be received by the Food Processing Ministry.