HICA urges people of AP and Telangana to stop using illegal mosquito repellent incense sticks to reduce risk of respiratory diseases

Hyderabad, December 28, 2021: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased respiratory issues leading to partially or in some cases, fully damaged lungs. Health professionals across the globe are already engaged in controlling the on-going health crisis.
Home Insect Control Association (HICA), a non-profit making industry body promoting safe use of household insecticides in India, has demanded stop on buying or selling of mosquito repellent incense sticks (agarbattis) in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana as majority of them are illegal and does not have necessary certification/licenses.
In the last couple of months, dengue cases has increased in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Cases of Covidengue, a coinfection of dengue and COVID-19 in a person, has been reported as well adding to more worries of citizens.
People are protecting themselves from mosquitoes and are buying mosquito repellent incense sticks/ agarbatti. available across chemists, pan shops and kirana stores. These incense sticks /agarbattis are sold at cheap price and have a visible drop-down impact on mosquitoes yet are illegally made and sold without proper licenses and permissions from the relevant Government Department. Illegal & spurious incense sticks/agarbattis available in the market are laced with unapproved harmful chemicals (insecticides/ pesticides). This can cause health issues such as asthma, bronchitis, reactive airways disease and other respiratory ailments. Basic checks on safety parameters which is mandatory for all home insecticide products are not carried out by these manufacturers producing the illegal agarbattis.
The mosquito repellent agarbattis are sold in market under names like Relax, Comfort, Sleepwell, Just Relax, Relief, Natural Relax, among others. These incense sticks/agarbattis do not go through the regulated manufacturing and licensing processes. As per the provisions of the Insecticide Act 1968, all household insecticide products need to be approved by Central Insecticide board (CIB) and registration committee. Household Insecticide products are approved by the CIB after evaluating the products toxicity and safety to the consumers and animals before granting permissions.
Mr. Jayant Deshpande, Honorary Secretary, HICA, said, “At a time when respiratory issues are occurring frequently, we strongly urge people to stop or avoid using mosquito repellent incense sticks. Most of them available in the market are illegal and have potential to damage consumer health. Usage of illegal mosquito repellent agarbattis or incense with unknown combustible material can trigger asthma, bronchitis, reactive airways disease and other respiratory ailments.
These incense sticks/agarbattis do not go through regulatory checks and have chemicals exceeding prescribed levels. They are likely to contain banned or unapproved chemicals as well. While these incense sticks seems to be effective on mosquitoes, they will be equally harmful to people’s health.”
He further added, “In the last 3 years, we have conducted more than 50 raids with local authorities across the country including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While we are committed to protect the interest of consumers, we recommend people to use only branded mosquito repellents and solutions which are approved by the licensing authorities. The licensing number start with CIR No and mfg license no that are issued by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB-RC) and State Dept and mandatorily required to be displayed on packages. People buy mosquito incense sticks more because of their affordable cost. Today, the organized industry has innovated and introduced safe alternatives to incense sticks like paper-based mosquito repellent cards which are approved, effective and cost as low as just INR 1 per usage.”
In India, close to 50% of mosquito repellents are in the burning format out of which, almost 30% are using unapproved and illegal mosquito repellent incense sticks. HICA has been working with the authorities for initiating strict action against manufacturers violating the licensing protocol of following certain safety parameters before the product is introduced in the market to consumers.