Companies must adhere to international norms: Chambers

Industry chambers today said all soft drink manufacturers must adhere to international norms, while criticising the government for going slow in implementing stringent rules.

Describing the manner in which the government dealt with the early warning sounded by CSE as "irresponsible", PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary General Bibek Debroy said the latest revelation by the NGO raised some fundamental questions on the food safety in the country.

"CSE has again found that pesticide residue content in soft drinks is far higher than Indian as well as international standards. The Joint Parliamentary Committee had asked the cola companies to raise quality. What is alarming is that no remedial measures have been taken," Debroy said.

Reacting to allegations against soft drink manufacturers for evidence of pesticide in their produce, Assocham President Anil Agarwal said that all manufacturers must adhere to international norms for making soft drinks.