Pesticide industry takes on CSE

Agrochemical Promotion Group, an industry body of 200 crop protection companies, today threatened to take legal action against Centre for Science and Environment if it failed to scientifically substantiate the presence of pesticides in soft drinks.

“We had sent a letter to CSE director Sunita Narain demanding an explanation and reply to the allegations made by it, failing which we will be forced to take legal action against them,” Salil Singhal, a pesticide industry official, said. He said the NGO had been given 15 days’ time to furnish the answers. “But, if they do not furnish all the answers, their allegations would tantamount to our defamation,” he added.

In response, CSE issued a statement: “The pesticide industry has been behaving like the proverbial bully. It should immediately stop these intimidating tactics. We dare it to take us to court,” said CSE.