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DAVOS-Coke says Indian govt backs it in pesticide row

24 Jan 2007 12:31:27 GMT
Source: Reuters

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The head of Coca-Cola Co. <KO.N> dismissed on Wednesday suggestions it still faced a crisis in India due to a row on pesticide level in its drinks by saying that competent local authorities had ruled in its favour.

"Every single piece of the Indian government that has looked at what is happening with water on our plants in India has supported our position," Coca-Cola CEO Neville Isdell told a press conference at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.

India's Centre for Science and Environment has said drinks from Coca-Cola and rival PepsiCo <PEP.N> contain unsafe levels of pesticides, prompting the southern Indian state of Kerala to impose a ban on their sale and production in August.

The two U.S. companies said at the time the ban was unconstitutional and that their products were safe to drink.

India's High Court lifted the ban in September, but the state of Kerala, run by a communist government, challenged the ban in December, risking a new stalemate.

"Everything that has been put out about water pollution ... and pesticides has been looked up by competent Indian authorities, by the courts and all have ruled in our favour," Isdell told reporters.

Isdell, a Coke veteran aged 63, was brought in to revive Coke and set out a policy to get back to basics such as focus on key brands, expand into new non carbonated drinks and juices.

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Last updated:Wed Jan 24 12:32:37 2007