Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Aug 24, 2006
Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 |
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Industry & Economy
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Pesticides Pesticide industry questions CSE report Our Bureau
Mumbai , Aug. 23 The quantum of pesticide residue as reported by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) "cannot, do not and will not cause any harm to Indian people," is the emphatic response of representatives with the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI). They were reacting to the CSE's report on pesticide residues in soft-drinks and the health hazard it poses. The report had said that residues of lindane, chlorpyrifos, DDT, heptachlor and malathion were found in soft-drinks in quantities that were above the draft standards and hence harmful to health. But CCFI's Mr Salil Singhal, said that they had sent a letter to the CSE seeking scientific substantiation of how the miniscule levels of pesticide affects human health. CCFI is an industry body of the Rs 6,000-crore pesticide industry. Questioning why pesticides were being singled out, he told mediapersons that the industry was highly regulated and the Government has fixed maximum residue levels for pesticides used in the country. "Why is there no analysis on heavy-metals? Why not look at other contaminants?" he said, indicating that there was a plan to target the pesticide industry. Further, he said that pesticides contributed to the country's food-security and the industry had weaned away from harmful pesticides. Even an Aspirin or Vitamin B tablet becomes fatal when 25 or more tablets were consumed within a day. Common salt could be lethal to humans when consumed at four grams per kilogram of body-weight, the industry representatives said, putting the issue in perspective. When questioned why the industry was not taking a legal recourse if CSE's findings were flawed, Mr Singhal said that they would wait for a response to their letter and then decide. CCFI representatives, however, admit that there are no norms for ground water — part of the problem in the soft-drink issue. Besides, processed-foods and other food-products will have limits laid out in the proposed Integrated Food Bill.
Related Stories: More Stories on : Pesticides | Beverages | Standards & Benchmarks
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