Incense sticks used in house-to-house worship, temple aarti and meditation will now not only be a symbol of fragrance and faith, but will also be safe from health point of view.
The Central Government has taken a big step amidst concerns being raised for a long time regarding the use of dangerous chemicals and pesticides in the manufacture of incense sticks. National On the occasion of Consumer Day, Union Consumer Minister Pralhad Joshi has issued a new Indian Standard for Agarbatti Manufacturing Standard, which has been named IS-19412:2025.
India is the world’s largest agarbatti producer and exporter. Lakhs of artisans, especially women, are dependent on this industry worth around Rs 8,000 crore for their livelihood. In such a situation, the new standard will not only protect the health of consumers, but will also strengthen the credibility of the industry. This is expected to increase the demand and confidence of Indian incense sticks in the international markets.
This new standard prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) focuses on making agarbatti manufacturing pure, safe and eco-friendly. In Sanatan tradition, incense sticks are considered a symbol of purity, positive energy and purification of the environment.
In such a situation, adulteration of health-damaging chemicals in the items used in worship is not only injustice to the consumers but is also against the basic spirit of faith. The standard mark of BIS will now give assurance that the aroma of puja will not be detrimental to health.
In the last few years, studies conducted in the country and abroad have revealed that such artificial chemicals and pesticides are being added to some incense sticks, the smoke of which can enter the body through inhalation and cause allergies, asthma, headache and other serious problems. Their prolonged use, especially in closed rooms, has a negative impact on indoor air quality. For these reasons, strict rules have been made on the chemicals used in perfumed products in many countries including Europe.
Under the new standard, the use of dangerous pesticides and artificial fragrance chemicals in the manufacturing of incense sticks has been completely banned. It includes chemicals like allethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin and fipronil. Apart from this, elements like benzoyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate and diphenylamine, which pose a risk of allergies and respiratory diseases, will no longer be used.
The government has a clear message that the purpose of incense sticks is to purify the environment, not to pollute it. (Agarbatti Manufacturing Standard) is in accordance with this spirit, which will ensure the safety of health along with the protection of faith.
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