West Bengal Agri Dept raids illegal mosquito repellent factories in Kolkata

The Agriculture Department along with Home Insect Control Association (HICA) raided plants of Subho Aromatics and DS Industries, manufacturer of illegal mosquito repellent coils based in the city.

These companies manufacture unapproved and pesticide-laced mosquito repellent sticks and coils like Yash Killer and Babaji Relax Citronella Agarbatti.

Pesticide laced spurious mosquito repellents cause serious health hazards and it is a criminal offence to manufacture or sell them, said an official.

HICA, a non-profit making industry body promoting safe use of household insecticides, lodged a complaint with the Department of Agriculture, an enforcing authority under Insecticide Act against mosquito repellent sticks and coils manufactured by Subho Aromatics (Dangapara Battala) and DS Industries (Dargatala) located in Kolkata.

The department directed its agricultural offices in the city to initiate action. The Agriculture Department has collected incense sticks and coil samples for testing and will prosecute the manufacturers as per the results of the test.

Commenting on this issue, Jayant Deshpande, Secretary & Director, Home Insect Control Association (HICA), said, "Mosquito repellent sticks and coils are getting manufactured and sold with compounds made from various unapproved pesticide formulations which are not tested fortoxicity. Thus, it turns out to be filled with harmful chemicals producing strong odour and smoke.

"Making or selling such incense sticks is a punishable offence. We aim to mark an end to the sale and manufacturing of illegal incense sticks by holding the manufacturers and sellers responsible in the court of law."

Misleading branded incense sticks are being sold across West Bengal under the names of Night Out Herbal Agarbatti, Relax, Relief, Balaji Relax, Babaji Relax, Happy Night Stick, HI Power and several other similar names. Incense sticks laced with pesticides/ agro chemicals are being manufactured, stored and sold without proper insecticide license from the State Agricultural Department- West Bengal. As per The Central Insecticide Board, Faridabad, this is in breach of the
Insecticides Act 1968/Rules thereunder.

"Increased usage of these illegal pesticide-laced mosquito repellent incense sticks can cause multiple health disorders such as genetic mutations, lung cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases, leukaemia, heart disease, skin irritation, and neurological problems.

"There has been a considerable increase in the number of children (in the age bracket of 5-12 years) suffering from multiple respiratory issues.

"HICA is working to safeguard the consumer interest by taking meaningful action to stop the sale of harmful incense sticks,” added Mr. Deshpande.

In June, 2019, taking action against pesticide-laced spurious mosquito repellent incense sticks, Akhand Bharat Jan Kalyaan Sewa Sansthan, a
prominent NGO, conducted awareness campaigns along with the local police in Galsi Bazaar of Bardhaman.

This campaign was conducted for wholesalers and retailers to inform them that selling illegal mosquito repellent sticks and coils is a criminal offence. They were educated about the harmful effects of unapproved mosquito repellent incense sticks to public health.

Authorities also confiscated illegal incense sticks like Relax sticks and coils, Balaji Relax Agarbatti, Babaji Relax Happy Night Stick and Hi Power as they are spurious and pose threat to people’s health.