Massive rejection is coming from the downstream tobacco ecosystem\nregarding the government\u2019s plan to implement plain cigarette packaging\nrules. A recent survey released by the National Consumers Pact (PakNas)\nshows that 91.4% of consumers firmly reject the Draft Minister of Health\nRegulation (RPMK) concerning the inclusion of health warnings. The RPMK\nis a derivative regulation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of\n2024. The regulation is considered flawed in terms of public\nparticipation because it did not involve consumers, as the directly\naffected parties, in its drafting process.<\/p>\n
PakNas Chairman Ary Fatanen revealed that this packaging\nstandardisation policy has triggered widespread unrest. Based on a\nsurvey of 1,700 consumers aged 21 and above, 90.4% felt their rights had\nbeen violated by the Ministry of Health as the initiator. \u2018By forcing\npackaging standardisation, from fonts and shapes to images, the\ngovernment violates consumers\u2019 rights to obtain correct information.\nConsumers will struggle to distinguish between legal and illegal\nproducts due to the loss of visual differentiation,\u2019 Ary stressed during\nthe National Consumer Discussion held at the Literacy Space in Sleman on\nSunday (21\/6). This concern is reflected in the survey results, with\n88.8% of consumers worried that the plain packaging rule will pave the\nway for the rampant circulation of illegal cigarettes in society.<\/p>\n
Based on these social and economic realities, PakNas urged the state\nto immediately halt sectoral ego in health matters and to involve the\npublic transparently. PakNas demands that tobacco regulation be drafted\ncomprehensively and fairly, balancing health protection with the\nconstitutional rights of citizens. Legal expert from Sebelas Maret\nUniversity (UNS), Ayub Torry Satriyo Kusumon, assessed that the plain\npackaging policy clearly contradicts Law Number 8 of 1999 on Consumer\nProtection, which guarantees the public\u2019s right to clear product\ninformation. Ayub also criticised the regulator\u2019s habit of often\nconducting pseudo-formalities in absorbing public aspirations.\n\u2018Lawmakers must change their mindset. Often, the invited community\nelements do not understand the core issues, merely fulfilling procedural\nadministration. Those directly affected are not invited. Essentially,\nthis is wrong,\u2019 Ayub criticised.<\/p>\n
From the perspective of supervision and state revenue, the Head of\nthe Enforcement and Investigation Section of the Yogyakarta Customs and\nExcise Office, Soma Baskoro, acknowledged that distinctive packaging\nfeatures are crucial for both officers and the public to filter out\nillegal products. \u2018It is important for us to educate consumers on\ndistinguishing the characteristics of legal and illegal cigarettes. So\nfar, legal cigarettes have contributed up to 90% of state revenue. To\ndate, we ourselves have eradicated 1.4 billion sticks of illegal\ncigarettes,\u2019 Soma stated. Ahead of the implementation deadline in July\n2026, the Lentera Anak Foundation appreciated the Ministry of Health\u2019s\ncommitment to finalising the Draft Minister of Health Regulation on\ncigarettes. Meanwhile, Situbondo Regent Yusuf Rio Wahyu Prayogo asked\nthe government to cancel discussions on implementing plain packaging for\ntobacco products. The discourse on standardising tobacco product\npackaging is considered a violation of constitutional rights as it\nlimits information on products legally circulating in society.\nCommission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI)\npledged to continue maximising its oversight function to ensure tobacco\ncontrol policies remain proportional. The Ministry of Health\u2019s plan to\nimplement a policy standardising cigarette packaging with uniform\ncolours (plain packaging) has once again drawn criticism.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plain-packaging-plan-for-cigarettes-draws-widespread-opposition-ahead-of-2026-deadline-1782111061", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }