Indonesia’s tobacco industry concerned over draft plans to standardise packaging

For years, Indonesia has been pledging to regulate e-cigarettes and tobacco products, and now, it has finally taken decisive action. However, a recent move to tighten regulations on tobacco and e-cigarette packaging, outlined in a draft by the Ministry of Health, has raised concerns among industry stakeholders.

Earlier this year, Indonesian president Joko Widodo signed a government regulation to establish the regulatory framework for e-cigarettes and tobacco products in the country. As a mandate of the regulation, the Ministry of Health kicked off a discussion about a draft of ministerial regulations controlling e-cigarettes and tobacco packaging. The regulations set out plain packaging requirements as well as covering the inclusion of a combined pictorial and textual health warning.