Government to Establish Maximum Limits for Nicotine and Tar Content in Cigarettes
JAKARTA — The Indonesian government will establish regulations governing maximum limits for nicotine and tar content in tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.
These provisions are outlined in Ministerial Coordination Regulation Number 2 of 2025 concerning Coordination of Determining Maximum Limits for Nicotine and Tar Content.
The regulation was issued in implementation of Article 431, paragraphs 6 and 9 of Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024 implementing Law Number 17 of 2023 on Health.
“This regulation requires that every person producing, importing and/or distributing tobacco products must comply with maximum limits for nicotine and tar content. Additionally, electronic cigarettes must also meet the maximum limits for nicotine content,” explained Sukadiono, Deputy for Coordinating Health Quality Improvement at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (10 March 2025).
He outlined that the coordination mechanism established under Article 3 of the Ministerial Coordination Regulation comprises several stages: technical preparation, initial plenary, final plenary, determination, socialisation and evaluation.
“This is still the initial plenary stage, so there is still quite a lengthy process ahead,” he said.
The study team comprises government representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry, the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), the National Standardisation Agency (BSN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as well as experts, academics, researchers and professionals.
Sukadiono explained that the study to determine maximum limits for nicotine and tar content has proceeded through several phases. Coordination meetings have been held regularly since 8 October 2025.
Expert discussions involving specialists from various fields including economics, molecular biology, cellular biology, cardiac electrophysiology and public health were conducted on 11 December 2025. Further discussions with experts in agricultural economics, health economics, industrial engineering and crop cultivation took place on 6 January 2026.
Supporting data and information were gathered from the Social Health Insurance Administration (BPJS Kesehatan), the Directorate General of Customs and Excise under the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The team also visited BPOM laboratories on 12 December 2025 to study testing and measurement processes for nicotine and tar content.