A chronology of the process followed, record of deliberations and the consensus reached: How the final standard for carbonated beverages was set but not notified.

BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), an autonomous body under the Department of Consumer Affairs, is mandated to set standards for quality for different products. In July 2003, its existing standard (IS 2346:1992- Carbonated Beverage) was due for revision. Its committee -- Food and Drinks (FAD)-14 had the mandate to revise or reaffirm the existing standard. In August 2003, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released its findings on pesticide residues in soft drinks. In November 2003, this committee was directed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to finalise the standard for carbonated beverages.

The committee comprises representatives of key government ministries (health and family welfare, food processing), of key scientific institutions (National Institute of Nutrition, National Institute of Occupational Health, Central Food Technological Research Institute), of key industry associations (Confederation of Indian Industries and Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry), of soft drink companies and consumer and environmental groups. In other words, all relevant stakeholders were involved in the deliberations.

In these three years, this committee and its sub-committees have met over 20 times to discuss the standard.

The chronology of the standard-setting process will make it clear that all issues have been discussed, data analysed and scientifically valid in this roughly three-year period. To hold back the standard now on the pretext of “good science” and unavailability of scientific and technical data is to play into the hands of the two cola majors, who are the only two affected parties against this standard. The JPC had asked for a credible scientific process to evolve standards suitable for Indian conditions. But it had also asked for public health not to be jeopardised and had mandated the government to issue the standards for pesticide residues in soft drinks.

In October 2005, the standard was finalised and in March 2006, it was re-confirmed by the committee as final and ready for implementation. Immediately after, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website noted in its progress of work that the standard (IS 2346) “has been finalised but not yet ready under print”. Meaning the standard had been finalised but not yet notified. However, a few weeks later, this mention was erased. BIS officials maintained a stony silence. Investigations by Down To Earth point to a letter written by the officials of the department of consumer affairs to the director general of BIS, questioning why the standard was set in “such a rush”. The letter questioned BISs’ setting the standard even though the ministry of health had raised objections. It conveyed its unhappiness over the way the matter had been handled by BIS. It wanted BIS to stop its work on the standard. The reasons, while not difficult to understand, are certainly incomprehensible as the department is supposedly mandated to protect consumer interests.