The Hindu Business Line : `CSE report on pesticide residue inconclusive'

In defence
All chemicals, including pesticides, are harmless when used in recommended dosages.
Quantum of pesticides found in Pepsi and Coca-Cola drinks harmless to the human body.

New Delhi , Aug. 26

The Agrochemicals Promotion Group on Friday questioned the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report on high pesticide residues in soft drinks, saying that the findings were "inconclusive and baseless".

The organisation said that the quantum of pesticides found in Pepsi and Coca-Cola drinks was harmless to the human body.

"All chemicals, including pesticides, are harmless when used in recommended dosages," said Mr Salil Singhal, Chairman-Emeritus, Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI).

"It is the pesticides that have come into the line of fire, while the whole issue really is between the Government and the cola companies," he added.

Negating the CSE claims of pesticides well above the permissible levels in not only colas but fruits and vegetables as well, Mr Singhal said the pesticide industry had introduced new molecules into pesticide formulations that were effective in very small dosages, sometimes as small as 20 gm per hectare.

He said: "Each molecule goes through almost 75 different tests that are purely done keeping in mind human and nature safety."

`Causing confusion'

The organisation claimed that the unsubstantiated reports by CSE had created confusion in the minds of the people and weremaligning the Rs 4000-crore pesticide industry.

On standards to be set on final products, Mr Singhal said though standards on raw materials for cereals, fruits and vegetables already existed, setting final product standards was not a bad idea.

He said, "India follows the World Health Organisation (WHO) methodology of setting standards to which the Government of India was a signatory."

He, however, clarified that different countries have different standards of pesticide residue levels depending on the country's food habits.

`Proverbial bully'

Meanwhile, reacting to the pesticide industry's allegations, Ms Sunita Narain, Director, CSE said: "The pesticide industry is behaving like the proverbial bully. It should immediately stop these intimidating tactics."

She added, "The right of individuals and organisations such as CSE to carry out action in public interest and in favour of public health cannot be questioned. It is a right to hold industries and governments accountable for their action, and should be strengthened, not suppressed."

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`CSE report on pesticide residue inconclusive'