Dubey asked ‘Sugandh India’  how  is it even possible to use herbal and natural raw materials in packets of incense sticks costing Rs 10 and 15? How can they manufacture incense sticks that are pure and pose no harm to human health? In the coming time, BIS is going to make a provision to write the information about the size of the agarbatti packet, the quality of the raw material, the quality of the fragrance and the raw material used in the manufacture. BIS will set complete standards related to incense sticks, in which the main focus will be that they are not harmful to humans.This will make sure that no one can falsely claim their products to be herbal. The Narendra Modi government is getting every item of food and drink checked. Similarly, incense stick industry will also be on check regarding what are they making? What are they selling? It will be closely monitored.

He said that the parameters of the 1965 Act are going on in the country for the perfume industry. That too is being reviewed. At that time there was no provision for testing and neither were there machines for testing. Now it is being arranged. If one is making kewra and shamama, one has to make exactly the same. Only then can it be sold in the market. He said that earlier there was Agmark’s rule. Now It is the age of BIS and rules are being made to check everything. He said that he anticipates that all this will start in 6 months. If anyone goes to export his product, then he has to get everything checked. Otherwise, his goods will not be able to land abroad.

Responding to a question from ‘Sugandh India’, Dubey said that today there are many such incense sticks, which when lit cause people headaches and other problems, because of the use of all the cheap chemicals. Therefore it will also be seen that if rose, kewra, sandalwood powder is used in incense sticks, then there is no harm in using their mixture. Also what percentage of them should be mixed. The length and thickness of the incense sticks will also be fixed and the percentage of the material will be decided on this basis. If aromatic woods like sandalwood and agar are being used in making incense sticks, then its standards will be fixed.

He said that according to an estimate 95 percent of the chemicals are not of good quality. For this, the PPM, which measures the percentage of anything, sees the PM in the particle which is examined. Medicines have a PPT test. That formula is being applied for the perfume industry. To check all this, machines worth 4 to 5 crores are needed. In such a situation, not everyone in the industry will be able to apply for it. In this way, 95 to 97 percent of the products in the market cause serious harm to human health. Giving an example, he said that at one time, mosquito coils were used to drive away mosquitoes, people used to face problems when they were burnt and the government took strict action which made the company make changes and now that problem is over.

Responding to a question, Dubey said that earlier there was no rule of inquiry in the law which is why there is unregulated and abundance of production and sale of incense sticks but now it will not work. Whether charcoal will be used or not, whether bamboo will be used or not, everything is being decided. One will not be able to use anything else in place of charcoal. This is the reason why the import of bamboo has been stopped. To weed out low quality incense sticks from the market. The government is in full cleaning mode. Good quality products will survive and the waste makers will be clean. He said that people raise questions like the public will not be able to pay the cost of a good quality product, but this has been proved wrong. After cleaning in the pan masala industry, now good products are in the market and people are also buying them. Similarly good quality products will continue to run in the agarbatti industry. Now people are health conscious. That’s why they want to buy a good thing by paying more money.

Yogesh Dubey said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself doesn’t want bad products to be sold in the country. That’s why he started Aroma Mission 5 years ago. There is a whole website in this regard and I know that the Prime Minister himself looks after it. So far, he has spent crores of rupees and is also encouraging farmers to start cultivating herbs and herbal products for aroma and stop traditional farming. This will also benefit the farmers 4 times more. He said that the Prime Minister has so far spent crores of rupees on aroma. On the instructions of the Prime Minister, Aroma Park has been built. A whole group is working on this. He said that at the time when he is talking to ‘Sugandh India’, at this time a meeting of the group is going on. In this the Triple IT of Jammu has been included and all the concerned groups are also being consulted.

On the question of ‘Sugandh India’ whether the packets of incense sticks of 10 and 15 rupees will stop selling? , he said, definitely, as they will not be able to provide quality fragrance at this price point, because he has to provide scented incense sticks along with great packaging for the same amount. Therefore, the era of doing illicit business will be over and the government has made complete arrangements for arrest as per the new rule.

He said that at present both natural and synthetic fragrance products are in operation and most of the companies do not do any R & D, but now it has to be done. Now only those industries will run, which will take care of the needs of the public and their health. Giving an example, he said that the ghadi washing powder beat Nirma only on the basis of its quality. Yogesh Dubey said that the owner of Ghadi washing powder is his friend and on asking, he told that he has installed dozens of machines for research. The owner of Ghadi does business on no profit no loss. When asked how profit is made then, he said that his brand has a high value and he buys raw material at a lower price than the market price and takes profit from it.

The President of the Essential Oil Association said that nothing is more important than quality. More than just the brightness of the packaging, it is more important that the products are right. The packaging should also be good, but not that the incense sticks that are burnt, cause harm to health. Today companies like Zed Black and Cycle are giving good products. Especially in Bangalore, very high quality products are made. In such a situation, if not today, tomorrow will be the price of quality. He said that only incense sticks which will meet all the standards will be exported. Companies making cheap and low quality products will not even think of exporting. He informed that in this context an exhibition is going to be organised in Indore, in which all the prominent personalities related to the agarbatti industry will be involved. Ankit Agrawal of Zed Black and Arjun Ranga of Cycle brand have also agreed to set up their stalls.