Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, explained that regulations on tobacco and e-cigarette control outlined in Government Regulation (PP) No. 28 of 2024, an implementing regulation of Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health, are already enforceable.
"Although the implementation of the PP is ongoing, we have already taken steps such as regulating advertising, banning certain additives, and prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to those under 21—although violations still occur," she remarked during an online press conference hosted by the Indonesian Youth Council for Tactical Changes on Thursday.
The regulation also forbids the sale and advertising of tobacco products within 200 meters of schools and children's playgrounds. It mandates the establishment of no-smoking zones at health care facilities, educational institutions, places of worship, public transport, and other public spaces.
"This is just a matter of execution. It does not require any new regulations. However, some aspects, like setting Pictorial Health Warning (PHW) standards and limits on nicotine and tar content, are still being finalized," she revealed.
Enforcing these measures is crucial, as smoking rates among those aged 15 and above continue to rise in absolute terms. Although the smoking prevalence rate may be declining slightly, population growth has caused a rise in the total number of smokers.
According to the Ministry of Health figures, the number of smokers in Indonesia rose from 57.2 million in 2013 to 63.1 million in 2023.
Of greater concern is the steep increase in young smokers aged 10–18. Their number has nearly tripled over a decade, from around 2 million in 2013 to 5.9 million in 2023.
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Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Primayanti
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