The government has cut the caffeine level of soft drinks by 27 per cent to 145 parts per million (ppm) to reduce their sedative risks in human body, sources said.
The ministry of industries (MoI) has ordered all the carbonated soft drinks manufacturers to maintain the caffeine level by issuing an SRO (statutory regulatory order) in this connection.
According to sources, the soft drinks manufacturers have already been maintaining the government approved level of 145 ppm in the maximum instead of the previous 200 ppm.
The decision came after holding a series of meetings with the stakeholders but no decision has yet been taken relating to the caffeine level of energy drinks.
The reduced level was approved by a technical committee aided by the stakeholders under Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and later it was sent to the MoI.
An official at the MoI said, "Our technical committee, after assessing the caffeine level and public health safety, finally decided to cut the level by 27 per cent for carbonated soft drinks."
A source at the BSTI said as in many countries of the world caffeine in soft drinks is less than that in Bangladesh; so the government is trying to reduce it gradually for ensuring good public health.
BSTI director Komol Proshad said, "As per the new direction the manufacturers are already maintaining the level."
He said, "After receiving the government order we have informed the manufacturers and in a random sampling we found our desired level."
A source at the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said, "I am yet to be confirmed about the government's new order but if it happens it would help to reduce risks of public health."
He said it is BSTI's duty now to check all the branded soft drinks whether they maintain the new level or not.
According to physicians at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), the young generation is becoming addicted to energy drinks.
He said there is no particular limit of maintaining caffeine in energy drinks but the government's move of cutting caffeine in soft drinks is a positive step with regard to public health.
A former BSMMU vice chancellor said the high caffeinated drinks work as a stimulator in the body which creates different psycho-somatic illnesses in the long run.
Currently, a good number of soft and energy drinks are available in the market with different brand names.
Though the government is controlling the caffeine level in soft drinks, it has no control over energy drinks and even there is no BSTI approval for any locally manufactured or imported energy drinks.
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