What changes for consumers, manufacturers and exports?
On National Consumer Day 2025, released a New Indian Standard for incense sticks (agarbattis)—IS 19412:2025–Incense Sticks (Agarbatti)—Specification—developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
The newly notified standard aims to enhance consumer safety, indoor air quality, and product consistency, while supporting ethical manufacturing practices and boosting India’s global competitiveness in the agarbatti sector.
“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,” the official release read.
What consumers should know?
The new standard not only eliminates the use of some of the most effective insecticidal agents and synthetic fragrance substances but also improves health and environmental conditions.
The announcement lists out the following main substances that are banned:
1) Insecticides: Alethrin, Permethrin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Fipronil
2) Synthetic fragrance intermediates: Benzyl cyanide, Ethyl acrylate, Diphenylamine
Many of these substances have already been classified as hazardous and are subject to stringent control and prohibition measures across the globe due to their deleterious effects on human health, air quality, and the environment.
Thus, consumers will be able to find the standard mark (BIS) on certified agarbatti products, indicating that the incense sticks are safe and of a higher quality.
Impact on manufacturers
The new IS 19412:2025 stipulates that very strict rules and regulations are to be followed in respect of raw materials, burning quality, fragrance performance and chemical parameters. Moreover, the standard has also categorised agarbattis based on the method of production as;
Machine-made
Hand-made
Traditional masala agarbattis
For the producers, this implies:
Adoption of good and safe production practices
Shifting to the use of ethical and sustainable methods
Assured continuity of traditional crafts
Better prospects of accessing the international markets
“Products conforming to this standard will be eligible to carry the BIS Standard Mark, enabling consumers to make informed choices with confidence,” the release read.
Boost for exports
India is the top manufacturer and exporter of agarbatti in the world; it has an industry worth Rs 8,000 crore per year and exports valued at Rs 1,200 crore to more than 150 countries.
With the new BIS standard, Indian incense products are likely to become acceptable to the international market for their quality and safety, thereby augmenting their status in the global marketplace.
How was the standard developed?
IS 19412:2025 was formulated by the Fragrance and Flavour Sectional Committee (PCD 18) of BIS with extensive stakeholder input. Experts from leading institutions contributed, including:
CSIR–Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP)
CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR)
CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI)
Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj
All India Agarbatti Manufacturers Association
Why does this matter?
Incense sticks or 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, the release said.
Source: Zeebiz