Stakeholder Consultation Held on Mandatory BIS Standards for Camphor and Isoborneol

stakeholder consultation meeting on the proposal to make Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications mandatory for camphor (CAS No. 76-22-2) and isoborneol (CAS No. 124-76-5) was held on 18 December 2025, with participation in both offline and online modes.

The meeting was held at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Joint Secretary (Chemicals) starting at 3:30 PM IST and was organized following communication from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC).

Scope and Objectives of the Consultation

The consultation aimed to gather industry inputs and data to support the proposed introduction of mandatory BIS standards for the two substances, which are widely used in pharmaceuticals, religious products, fragrances, and chemical manufacturing.

Stakeholders and council members were invited to attend the meeting either in person or virtually, ensuring broader participation from industry representatives, manufacturers, and relevant associations.

Data Requested from Industry Stakeholders

• During the meeting, participants were requested to provide detailed data and information for each substance, including:
• HS Codes and existing BIS standard numbers
• Installed domestic production capacity (producer-wise) for FY 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25
• Domestic demand and production figures up to FY 2025–26 (to date)
• Import and export data, including country-wise import shares
• Details of domestic producers
• Domestic pricing and import/export pricing trends

The data collected through this consultation will support the government in assessing market readiness, domestic manufacturing capacity, import dependency, and potential trade implications before finalizing the mandate for BIS certification.

This meeting is an important step towards strengthening quality control, standardization, and regulatory oversight for camphor and isoborneol in India, in line with broader efforts to enhance product safety and promote domestic manufacturing.