Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kemkomdigi) has announced it is prepared to block content related to tobacco and vape advertising on social media, acting on official complaints from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes). This move aims to protect children from exposure to the promotion of tobacco and e-cigarette products.
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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.
Read moreThe Indonesian E-liquid Producers Association (PPEI) is calling on the government, specifically the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), to re-evaluate and lower the current excise tariff structure for e-cigarettes. While commending the government for not increasing excise rates this year, the association warns that previous hikes have had a devastating impact on the industry.
PPEI Chairman Daniel Boy stated that his organization continues to push for regulations that favor vape industry entrepreneurs. However, the economic pressure from past policies has been severe. Agung Subroto, Deputy Chairman of PPEI, revealed that two consecutive multi-year excise tax increases of 19.5% per year have forced nearly half of their members out of business. “This has reduced our membership from over 300 producers to just 170. This means that almost half of our members are unable to purchase excise stamps to produce e-liquid,” Subroto explained.
He dismissed the notion that the industry’s decline was due to negative health narratives, attributing it instead to a lack of education and the heavy tax burden. Subroto pointed to research from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) which showed that many toxic substances found in conventional cigarettes, such as carbon monoxide, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene, were not detected in e-cigarette vapor, supporting the argument that vapes are a lower-risk alternative. PPEI hopes for further tax relaxation in the future to allow the legal industry to survive and provide these alternatives to adult smokers.
Smoking continues to be a major global health problem, causing over eight million premature deaths annually, including 1.3 million from secondhand smoke, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). New analysis reveals that Indonesia, China, and South Korea have some of the highest smoking rates globally, particularly driven by an overwhelming prevalence among men.
Read moreVape businesses and consumer associations in Indonesia are raising strong objections to a draft regional regulation (Raperda) by the Jakarta Provincial Government that proposes to treat electronic cigarettes (vapes) on par with combustible tobacco cigarettes within its Smoke-Free Area (KTR) policy. The Indonesian Vape Consumer Association (Akvindo) argues that equating these distinct products is a misguided policy that ignores scientific evidence on harm reduction and could unfairly restrict adult consumers’ access to less harmful alternatives.
Read moreIndonesia is grappling with a severe public health crisis as the number of active smokers reaches 70 million, with an alarming 7.4% of teenagers aged 10-18 now using tobacco. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has warned that without decisive action, overall smoking prevalence could hit 37.5% by 2025. This concerning trend is exacerbated by a tenfold increase in e-cigarette (vape) use by 2023 and a dramatic surge in child smokers, some initiating the habit as young as four years old.
Read moreThe Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, in collaboration with the regional legislature (DPRD), is finalizing a comprehensive Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on Smoke-Free Areas (Kawasan Tanpa Rokok – KTR). This new legislation aims to significantly strengthen public health protections by strictly regulating locations where smoking is prohibited and introducing substantial administrative sanctions for violations. Crucially, the DPRD, with support from the Governor, is pushing for these regulations to treat vaping (e-cigarette use) on par with conventional smoking, subjecting it to the same restrictions and penalties.
Read moreA coalition of 13 Indonesian civil society organizations, including the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) and the Indonesian Youth Council for Tactical Changes (IYCTC), has issued an open letter urging social media influencers to cease promoting vape products to children and adolescents. Mouhamad Bigwanto, Chairman of the Indonesian Health Policy Space (RUKKI), stated that young people are daily exposed to influencer content that overtly promotes these addictive products, often portraying e-cigarettes as a cool and safe lifestyle choice.
Read moreThe Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta has officially proposed a strengthening of its Smoke-Free Zones (KTR) through a Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda). Presented to the Jakarta DPRD (Regional People’s Representative Council) by Governor Pramono Anung on May 27, 2025, the bill aims to expand smoke-free areas and introduce significantly tougher sanctions for violations, including hefty fines for tobacco and vape advertising within these zones.
Read moreDKI DPRD Special Committee Proposes Including E-cigarettes Alongside Tobacco
The Jakarta Provincial Government and the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD DKI Jakarta) are planning to update the city’s regulations on Smoke-Free Areas (KTR) this year, with a key proposal to explicitly include electronic cigarettes (vapes) alongside traditional tobacco cigarettes.
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