The Maharashtra Department of Agriculture has ordered a statewide crackdown on the illegal sale of mosquito agarbattis marketed under the brand names “Comfort” and “Sleep Well,” directing insecticide inspectors to initiate raids, seizures, and prosecution of violators under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Retailers and distributors across the state have been instructed to immediately stop stocking and selling the products, with authorities mandated to report enforcement actions to the Commissionerate of Agriculture.
The action follows earlier investigations that detected unapproved insecticides in the two products through laboratory testing in Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai, prompting regulatory scrutiny. Within 15 days of a raid and ban on “Comfort” in Mumbai, the state government escalated the response by issuing a fresh circular directing divisional joint directors and inspectors to enforce strict compliance statewide.
The Home Insect Control Association (HICA) welcomed the move, with its Honorary Secretary Jayant Deshpande stating that the enforcement sends a strong message against the distribution of unregistered insecticide products and protects consumers from potentially unsafe mosquito repellents. Traders in Guwahati said the Maharashtra action could trigger tighter scrutiny of mosquito repellent products nationwide, prompting distributors to verify regulatory registrations more carefully. Retailers indicated that consumer awareness regarding approved insecticide products is likely to increase, encouraging demand for certified and registered mosquito repellents across northeastern markets.