Soft drinks update
On December 17, 2003, soft drink major Pepsi withdrew its petition challenging the report of Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (cse) on pesticide residues in soft drinks. The withdrawal came in the wake of a cse counter-affidavit, in which it was argued that since Pepsi claimed to meet eu norms, it wouldn't mind if the court directed the government to adopt the most stringent norms for final product.. Pepsi said it was withdrawing because of an ongoing parliamentary investigation
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola India has set up an India advisory board under the chairpersonship of former Cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra to guide the company on future strategies, corporate citizenship, social responsibility and corporate governance. Other members: former Chief Justice B N Kirpal; former Army Chief General V P Malik; hdfc chairperson Deepak Parekh; former Hindustan Lever chairman S M Dutta; Hero Group managing director Sunil Kant Munjal; economist Jairam Ramesh; sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and educationist Shyama Chona. The board met for the first time on December 16 and decided to form an Indian environmental council led by Justice Kirpal.