Burning 'agarbattis' at home? Here’s what the Centre has now banned in incense sticks

In a bid to ensure consumer safety, the Centre on Friday issued a new Indian standard for incense sticks by prohibiting certain insecticidal chemicals in manufacturing.

A dedicated Indian standard ‘IS 19412:2025’ for agarbatti was released by Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on the occasion of National Consumer Day at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The standard prohibits the use of certain insecticidal chemicals and synthetic fragrance substances in agarbattis that may pose risks to human health, indoor air quality and the environment.

This includes 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 in several countries due to their potential adverse impact on health and ecological safety, the ministry said.

The standard classifies agarbattis into machine-made, hand-made and traditional masala categories, and prescribes requirements for raw materials, burning quality, fragrance performance and chemical parameters to ensure safer products and consistent quality for consumers.

"It is expected to enhance consumer confidence, promote ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices, support traditional artisans, and improve access to global markets," the ministry said.

The standard was developed by the Fragrance and Flavour Sectional Committee of BIS after extensive stakeholder consultations, with inputs from institutions including CSIR–Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute, the Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre, Kannauj, and industry bodies such as the All India Agarbatti Manufacturers Association.

Incense sticks 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.

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 over 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.