Health Ministry Stresses Child Protection as Basis for Plain Packaging Rules
The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has emphasised that the drafting of the Ministerial Regulation concerning the inclusion of health warnings and information on tobacco and e-cigarette products is being conducted transparently and involves various stakeholders.
The Acting Director General of Disease Prevention at the Ministry of Health, Dr Andi Saguni, stated that all feedback received during the regulatory drafting process has been taken into consideration by the government.
“All input provided during the regulatory drafting process has been considered by the government. However, in principle, health policy must continue to prioritise public protection, especially for children, from the risks of addiction and the harmful effects of tobacco consumption,” said Andi Saguni in a written statement on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.
According to the Ministry of Health, protecting public health, particularly for children and adolescents, serves as the primary foundation for the regulation. Consequently, the government is proceeding with the discussions regarding the draft rules governing health warnings and information on tobacco and e-cigarette products.
Nevertheless, the Ministry’s statement has drawn responses from several business players and trade associations. They argue that the planned implementation of plain packaging could potentially impact the retail sector and small businesses that currently rely on the sale of tobacco products.
The General Chair of the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo), Solihin, stated that the tobacco sector contributes significantly to retail business revenue. According to him, the plain packaging policy has the potential to affect the income of downstream business actors.
Similar views were expressed by several trader organisations. The General Chair of the Indonesian Street Vendor Association (APKLI), Ali Mahsum Atmo, assessed that the regulation could potentially suppress the turnover of small traders, including street vendors and grocery stores.
Meanwhile, the Vice General Chair of the Indonesian Retail Cooperative Association (Akrindo), Anang Zunaedi, noted that cigarette sales contribute approximately 20 to 30 per cent to the total turnover of many traders. Therefore, his organisation is requesting that the government consider the impact of the policy on micro-enterprises and retailers.
The General Chair of the All-Indonesia Grocery Traders Association (PPKSI), Junaedi, also assessed that cigarette sales are linked to the sale of other products in grocery stores. According to him, a decline in cigarette sales could potentially affect the sales of other products that consumers typically purchase simultaneously.