New Delhi: A 15-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was set up on August 22 to probe the reported high percentage of pesticide residues in Coca Cola, Pepsi and 10 other soft drink brands.

A motion seeking constitution of a JPC to investigate the matter, moved by Health and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, was adopted by Lok Sabha by voice vote.

Of the 15 members, 10 will be from Lok Sabha and five from Rajya Sabha, Swaraj said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has been asked to nominate members to the Committee from his House, she said.

The members from Lok Sabha are; Sharad Pawar (NCP), K Yerran naidu (TDP), Sudha Yadav and Anant Kumar (BJP), Ramesh Chennithala and Avtar Singh Bhadana (Congress), E Ahmed (Muslim League), Ranjit Panja (Trinamool Congress), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and Anil Basu (CPM).

The Committee would be asked to submit its report at the beginning of the next session, the Minister said.

PTI