Standards for incense sticks notified: Govt bans hazardous chemicals; new norms voluntary

NEW DELHI: In a first, authorities notified standards for incense sticks (agarbatti) and has laid down prime norms oregon Indian Standards, specifying a database of substances prohibited for usage successful their manufacture.The items see definite insecticidal chemicals specified arsenic allethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin and fipronil, arsenic good arsenic synthetic fragrance intermediates similar benzyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate and diphenylamine. Many of these substances are restricted oregon banned internationally owed to their imaginable interaction connected quality health, indoor aerial prime and ecological safety.The standard, IS 19412:2025, developed by BIS was released by user affairs curate Pralhad Joshi connected Consumer Rights Day. The section said this was aimed astatine enhancing quality, safety, and sustainability. At present, this volition beryllium a voluntary standard. It classifies agarbatti into machine-made, hand-made, and accepted masala agarbattis, and prescribes requirements for earthy materials, burning quality, fragrance show and chemic parameters.“Substances historically used... person been linked to respiratory irritation, allergic reactions, neurological effects and biology harm erstwhile inhaled repeatedly successful indoor environments,” the section said.