- News>
- India
No mandatory BIS standard in the offing for soft drinks
New Delhi, Aug 06: A day after an independent study spoke of excessive presence of pesticides in leading brands of soft drinks including Coke and Pepsi, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) today ruled out fixing mandatory standards for the beverages saying its role is very limited in this regard.
New Delhi, Aug 06: A day after an independent study spoke of excessive presence of pesticides in leading brands of soft drinks including Coke and Pepsi, Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) today ruled out fixing mandatory standards for the beverages saying its role is very limited in this regard.
The bureau is, however, reviewing the "voluntary"
standard for carbonated beverages and whether a revision is
required will be decided at its meeting here on August 18.
"Our role is very limited since BIS does not issue licence for soft drinks. This product is under Mandatory Certification of Fruit Products Order, 1955 of Ministry of Food Processing Industries against their own standard," a top BIS official told.
He said BIS published in 1992 an Indian standard on carbonated beverages for guidance to the soft drinks industry, which was reaffirmed in 1997 and then again in 2003.
In line with the directives of Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav, all the standards for products of human consumption are now being reviewed and, if necessary, taken for revision, he added.
The BIS standard for carbonated beverages is being reviewed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and Defence Food Research Laboratory, both in Mysore, on behalf of the bureau.
The results of the review will be discussed at the August 18 meeting wherein decision on upgrading the standard will be taken including those on quality of water used in carbonated beverages. Bureau Report
"Our role is very limited since BIS does not issue licence for soft drinks. This product is under Mandatory Certification of Fruit Products Order, 1955 of Ministry of Food Processing Industries against their own standard," a top BIS official told.
He said BIS published in 1992 an Indian standard on carbonated beverages for guidance to the soft drinks industry, which was reaffirmed in 1997 and then again in 2003.
In line with the directives of Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav, all the standards for products of human consumption are now being reviewed and, if necessary, taken for revision, he added.
The BIS standard for carbonated beverages is being reviewed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and Defence Food Research Laboratory, both in Mysore, on behalf of the bureau.
The results of the review will be discussed at the August 18 meeting wherein decision on upgrading the standard will be taken including those on quality of water used in carbonated beverages. Bureau Report