The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD), on December 26, 2025, notified regarding the Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi Releases New BIS Standard for Incense Sticks to Enhance Consumer Safety and Product Quality.
The following has been stated namely:-
• The newly notified standard specifies prohibited use of certain insecticidal chemicals and synthetic fragrance substances in agarbattis that may pose risks to human health, indoor air quality and the environment. To address these issues, IS 19412:2025 specifies a list of substances prohibited for use in agarbattis. This includes certain insecticidal chemicals such as alethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and fipronil, as well as synthetic fragrance intermediates like benzyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate, and diphenylamine. Many of these substances are restricted or banned internationally due to their potential impact on human health, indoor air quality, and ecological safety.
• Considering consumer safety, indoor air quality, environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance—along with global restrictions on certain fragrance compounds and chemicals globally—has therefore underscored the need for a dedicated Indian Standard for Agarbattis. The standard classifies Agarbatti into machine-made, hand-made, and traditional masala agarbattis, and prescribes requirements for raw materials, burning quality, fragrance performance, and chemical parameters, ensuring safer products and consistent quality for consumers.
[Press Release ID: 2208829]
