Tobacco Industry Protests Proposed Limits on Tar and Nicotine Content in Cigarettes
Jakarta – Indonesia’s tobacco industry stakeholders, ranging from tobacco farmers and sector workers to industry associations, are protesting the government’s planned regulation establishing maximum limits on nicotine and tar content in cigarettes, which is currently under review.
Under the draft regulation, which derives from Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024, maximum limits will be set at 1 milligram (mg) of nicotine and 10 mg of tar per cigarette.
Henry Najoan, Chairman of the Indonesian Cigarette Manufacturers Association (GAPPRI), believes the new policy draft will cause significant contraction in the tobacco products industry.
“Because local tobacco has high nicotine characteristics, implementing maximum restrictions on tar and nicotine content will cause major contraction in Indonesia’s cigarette industry,” Henry said in a statement on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
Given the high domestic content and the labour-intensive nature of the tobacco sector, the government should reconsider the planned regulation.
“Therefore, we have agreed to reject the regulation implementing PP 28 of 2024, such as tar and nicotine restrictions, as well as regulations on additional ingredients and standardised packaging, as these could negatively impact Indonesia’s tobacco products industry,” he said.
Similarly, Agus Parmuji, Chairman of the Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI), believes the planned policy implementation was adopted without considering the actual conditions of Indonesia’s kretek (clove cigarette) industry, which differs significantly from other countries.
According to him, the new regulation will further narrow the living space for farmers, who have lacked comprehensive regulatory protection so far.
“In our view, the regulation being planned at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development that relates to implementing PP 28 of 2024 is a forced regulation that does not accommodate all interests,” said Agus.
He stressed that the close relationship between Indonesia’s tobacco agriculture and rural economies is inconsistent with a policy believed to suppress the national tobacco sector, as it will have widespread impacts on village communities’ livelihoods.
“Tobacco agriculture in Indonesia is laden with rural economic interests. When the government forces this regulation, what happens is a wave of economic destruction at the village level,” he said.