Indonesian Researcher: Regulate Vapes Based on Lower Risk
A researcher from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is advocating for risk-based regulations for alternative tobacco products like e-cigarettes (vapes) and heated tobacco products (HTPs), arguing they should not be treated the same as conventional cigarettes. Bambang Prasetya, a BRIN researcher, stated that a BRIN study shows these alternative products have a different health risk profile.
“Conventional cigarettes are burned and produce tar and chemical compounds. Meanwhile, alternative products do not go through combustion, so their tar levels are very low or almost zero,” Bambang said on Wednesday (July 30, 2025). He explained that while these products contain nicotine, which is chemically similar to caffeine, “nicotine is not the only source of danger. In fact, many dangerous substances arise from the process of burning conventional tobacco.”
The BRIN study involved a literature review and laboratory tests on product samples available in Indonesia, conducted by an independent lab to ensure objectivity. Bambang urged that regulations, such as Jakarta’s proposed Smoke-Free Area (KTR) rules, should be risk-based. “Products that do not produce tar should not be equated with those that do, either in the application of bans or excise tariffs,” he stated.
With approximately 70 million active smokers in Indonesia and traditional control measures showing limited success, Bambang suggested the government should consider innovative policies. He proposed that BRIN’s research supports encouraging smokers to switch to alternative products with lower health risks as a viable harm reduction strategy.
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