No conclusive evidence, says Ramadoss
Results from Gujarat and Mysore labs revealed pesticide residues were not above permissible level.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: An expert committee set up by Union Health ministry to examine the report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on pesticide level in soft drinks held that there was no conclusive evidence on presence of different pesticides in the concentration reported, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said on Tuesday.
He said results from Gujarat and Mysore laboratories on two samples of water and two of carbonated drinks have revealed that the pesticide residues were not above permissible level, he said while participating in a short notice discussion on pesticides in soft drinks and packaged water, he said
The Minister said directions have been issued to state and Central laboratories to lift more samples of carbonated drinks and test them.
He said 213 samples had been lifted so far from 14 states and sent for testing.
Directors of Central Food Laboratories have also been asked to accept samples of carbonated water and packaged drinking water for checking the quality parameter including pesticide resides, Ramadoss said.
He said results from Gujarat and Mysore laboratories on two samples of water and two of carbonated drinks have revealed that the pesticide residues were not above permissible level, he said while participating in a short notice discussion on pesticides in soft drinks and packaged water, he said
The Minister said directions have been issued to state and Central laboratories to lift more samples of carbonated drinks and test them.
He said 213 samples had been lifted so far from 14 states and sent for testing.
Directors of Central Food Laboratories have also been asked to accept samples of carbonated water and packaged drinking water for checking the quality parameter including pesticide resides, Ramadoss said.
He said it was not a question of "banning or not banning" and the issue of level of pesticide was a short-term problem while health issue was the larger one.
Ramadoss said while standards have already been set for water the onus was on the manufacturer to ensure that the pesticide residue level was not above maximum permissible level.
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