the joint Parliamentary Committee's (jpc) recommendations in its report on pesticide residues in, and safety standards for, soft drinks, fruit juices and other beverages have elicited little response from the Union government. An action taken report, submitted to the parliament by the Union government of health and family welfare (mohfw) in the first week of December, gives ample proof of almost two years of inaction.

The jpc report was submitted to the parliament in February 2004. Amongst its key recommendations was, "Fixing stringent standards' for carbonated beverages'. The committee had observed: "It is prudent to seek complete freedom from pesticide residues in sweetened aerated water'. The Union government has just dawdled on this important recommendation. The mohfw report, of course, finds it convenient to state: "The matter has been referred to the National Level Expert Group to guide the Pesticide Residues Sub-Committee of ccfs [Central Committee for Food Standards] for detailed examination and recommendations, which are awaited'. But there are questions that cry out for an answer: how many times has this committee met? When exactly would it come up with its recommendations?

Pesticides regulation reforms