"We will consider (the prohibition of e-cigarettes), but in principle, everything that is dangerous will be prohibited by the government," Amin stated at the University of Indonesia here, Thursday.
The vice president promised that thorough assessment of the effects of e-cigarettes on public health will be conducted before the government takes its decision.
If e-cigarettes are found to be safe for public health, then the government's next step is to consider how the product would be taxed, he noted.
"If (the e-cigarette) is not dangerous, the next step is to decide whether the commodity excise will be imposed or not. However, our first step will be (to decide whether) or not to allow the commodity," Amin stated.
Earlier, the government, initiated by the Health Ministry, was planning to amend Government Regulation No. 109 of 2012 on the security of materials with addictive substances in the form of tobacco for health.
The proposed revision is written in the appendix to Presidential Regulation No. 25 of 2022 on Government Regulation Drafting Programme in 2023, signed by President Joko Widodo on December 23, 2022.
The proposed amendment would include changes in the health warning and picture in tobacco product packaging; regulations on electronic cigarettes; prohibition of advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products in the information technology media; and prohibition on the sale of cigarettes in sticks.
The legal repercussion of violations of the regulation and implementation of the smoke-free zone would also be included in the regulation amendment.
Related news: Ban on single cigarette sales in keeping with law: VP
Related news: Ban on single cigarette sticks' sales to protect public: Jokowi
Related news: Tobacco tax increase to help control cigarette consumption: minister
Translator: Desca Lidya N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
