KPTNI Fears Ministerial Regulation Will Impact Tobacco Stakeholders

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Nusantara Indonesia Tobacco Lovers Community (KPTNI) has voiced its concerns regarding the draft regulation for standardised cigarette packaging initiated by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

The community, which comprises hundreds of tobacco enthusiasts across Indonesia—ranging from farmers and blenders to tobacco business operators—believes that the Draft Minister of Health Regulation (RPMK) concerning the Inclusion of Health Warnings and Information on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes will impact the legal tobacco ecosystem. The draft includes plans to standardise fonts, shapes, and the Pantone 4ng448C colour.

“Even now, without such a regulation, many illegal products use colours, names, and fonts that mimic official legal products. In fact, standardised packaging will provide more freedom for illegal cigarette products,” said the General Chairperson of KPTNI, Eggy Bp, in Jakarta on Saturday.

As a community whose members include farmers, consumers, producers, and distributors within the tobacco sector, Eggy believes that the proposed packaging standardisation regulation will also stifle related industrial chains, such as packaging printing and other creative economy sectors.

According to him, the Ministry of Health should involve his organisation in the discussion and drafting of the regulation. This is particularly important as the tobacco ecosystem is one of the largest supporting sectors of the national economy.

“The government should provide support through policies that are more fair, balanced, and transparent,” said Eggy.

Therefore, he stated that KPTNI requests the Ministry of Health to comprehensively listen to input from every element of the tobacco community, as they are the parties directly affected.