New BIS Standard
for Agarbatti (Incense Sticks) Released
·
Rs. 1200 crs Export
Industry not Covered by Standard, South Africa, Ecuador and China Emerging
Exporters will be Released
India Notifies First Dedicated BIS
Standard for Agarbattis, Bans Harmful Chemicals
·
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
released IS 19412:2025 –
Incense Sticks (Agarbatti) — Specification
on National Consumer Day
2025 in New Delhi.
·
The new BIS standard prohibits
the use of certain insecticidal chemicals (including alethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin and
fipronil) and synthetic
fragrance intermediates (such as benzyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate
and diphenylamine) due to risks to human
health, indoor air quality and the environment.
·
IS 19412:2025 classifies agarbattis
into machine-made,
hand-made and traditional masala categories and prescribes
requirements for raw
materials, burning quality, fragrance performance and chemical safety.
·
Products meeting the standard will be eligible to carry the
BIS Standard Mark,
helping consumers make informed and safer choices.
·
The standard aims to enhance
consumer confidence, promote ethical and sustainable manufacturing,
protect traditional
livelihoods, and improve global
market access for Indian agarbatti
products.
·
Developed by BIS’s Fragrance
and Flavour Sectional Committee (PCD 18), the standard involved
extensive consultations with CSIR institutes, FFDC Kannauj, and industry
bodies.
·
India, the world’s largest producer and exporter of agarbattis, has an industry size of about ₹8,000 crore,
exports worth ₹1,200
crore to over 150 countries, and provides large-scale
employment, especially for women
and MSMEs.
The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs,
Food & Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, released
IS 19412:2025 – Incense Sticks (Agarbatti) — Specification,
an Indian Standard developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The standard
was released on the occasion of National Consumer Day 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New
Delhi.
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.
Products conforming to this standard will
be eligible to carry the BIS Standard Mark, enabling consumers to make informed
choices with confidence. The notification of IS 19412:2025 is expected to boost
consumer confidence, promote ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices, protect
traditional livelihoods and enhance global market access for Indian agarbatti products.
The standard has been developed by the
Fragrance and Flavour Sectional Committee (PCD 18) of BIS through extensive
stakeholder consultations. Experts from institutions such as CSIR–Central Institute
of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research
(IITR), CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), the Fragrance
and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, and the All India Agarbatti Manufacturers Association contributed to its formulation.
India is the world’s largest producer
and exporter of agarbattis, with the industry estimated
at around ₹8,000 crore annually and exports of about ₹1,200
crore to more than 150 countries. The sector supports a large ecosystem
of artisans, MSMEs and micro-entrepreneurs, particularly in rural and semi-urban
areas, and provides significant employment opportunities, especially for women.
Incense sticks, popularly known as agarbattis, are an integral part of India’s cultural and religious
practices and are widely used in households, places of worship, meditation centres
and wellness spaces. With rising global interest in yoga, meditation, aromatherapy
and holistic well-being, demand for incense products has increased significantly
in both domestic and international markets.