**Executive Summary**
On December 26, 2025, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi released IS 19412:2025, a new Indian Standard for incense sticks (agarbatti) developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The standard aims to enhance consumer safety and product quality by prohibiting the use of specific harmful substances. The release occurred on National Consumer Day 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Standard Specification:**
* IS 19412:2025 specifies requirements for incense sticks (agarbattis).
* It classifies Agarbatti into machine-made, hand-made, and traditional masala agarbattis.
* It prescribes requirements for raw materials, burning quality, fragrance performance, and chemical parameters.
* **Prohibited Substances:**
* The standard prohibits the use of certain insecticidal chemicals and synthetic fragrance substances in agarbattis.
* Prohibited insecticidal chemicals include alethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and fipronil.
* Prohibited synthetic fragrance intermediates include benzyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate, and diphenylamine.
* **Compliance and Benefits:**
* Products conforming to the standard can carry the BIS Standard Mark.
* The standard aims to boost consumer confidence, promote ethical manufacturing, protect traditional livelihoods, and enhance market access.
* **Development:**
* The Fragrance and Flavour Sectional Committee (PCD 18) of BIS developed the standard.
* Institutions such as CIMAP, IITR, CFTRI, FFDC, and the All India Agarbatti Manufacturers Association contributed to its formulation.
* **Industry Context:**
* India is the largest producer and exporter of agarbattis.
* The industry is estimated at ₹8,000 crore annually, with exports of ₹1,200 crore to over 150 countries.
**Impact Analysis**
**Consumers**
* **Impact:** Increased safety and confidence in the quality and safety of agarbatti products.
* **Action Required:** Look for the BIS Standard Mark when purchasing agarbattis to ensure compliance with the new standard.
**Agarbatti Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Need to comply with IS 19412:2025 to ensure product safety and quality. This may require changes to manufacturing processes and raw material sourcing.
* **Action Required:** Reformulate products to eliminate prohibited substances and meet the requirements of the new standard. Seek BIS certification to use the BIS Standard Mark.
**Artisans, MSMEs, and Micro-entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** The standard is expected to protect their traditional livelihoods and promote sustainable manufacturing practices.
* **Action Required:** Adopt the new standard to maintain and potentially enhance market access.
**Regulatory Bodies (BIS)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for enforcing the new standard and ensuring compliance.
* **Action Required:** Implement certification and surveillance schemes to monitor agarbatti products in the market and take action against non-compliant products.
Key Entities Referenced
BIS Standard Mark: Certification mark indicating that a product conforms to standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
IS 19412:2025 – Incense Sticks (Agarbatti) - Specification: Indian Standard specifying requirements for incense sticks, including prohibited substances and quality parameters.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The national standards body of India responsible for the formulation, recognition, and promotion of standards.
Fragrance and Flavour Sectional Committee (PCD 18): Committee within the Bureau of Indian Standards responsible for developing standards related to fragrances and flavors.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi Releases New
BIS Standard for Incense Sticks to Enhance
Consumer Safety and Product Quality
प्रव तथ: 26 DEC 2025 3:42PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri 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.
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