Traders' Association Complains Over Draft Health Ministry Regulation on Standardised Cigarette Packaging

Ali Mahsun, Chairman of the Street Vendor Association (APKLI), has complained about several clauses in the Draft Health Ministry Regulation (RPMK) on standardised cigarette packaging, which he says will burden traders. According to Ali, this will harm the retail sector, particularly street vendors, as similar packaging colours will make it harder to distinguish legal from illegal products. ‘The traders are severely disadvantaged when there is no product differentiation. Forcing plain packaging in Pantone 448C, standardising fonts, shapes, and images will erode legal cigarette sales as illegal products flood the market,’ Ali stated in Jakarta on Saturday. He also lamented that the Health Ministry did not involve or accommodate input from traders’ associations whose livelihoods would be directly affected during the drafting of the RPMK. Ali stated that approximately 3.9 million street vendors would be affected by the proposed standardised packaging rules. These millions of vendors include small traders, convenience stores, street hawkers, and other MSMEs. Ali noted that cigarette sales for street vendors are not insignificant. For convenience store vendors, cigarettes contribute over 50% of total sales, he added. APKLI further urged that the drafting and discussion of the RPMK be conducted prudently, fairly, and proportionately to balance health interests with the economic welfare of tens of millions of Indonesians. Ali also noted that the current economic situation is sluggish, with purchasing power yet to recover and global economic pressures. ‘Do not overlook the significant and strategic contribution of Indonesia’s tobacco ecosystem to national governance. Over 10% of total state revenue comes from tobacco excise and taxes, creating six million jobs from upstream to downstream,’ Ali said.