Regarding The Implementation Of Excise On Sweet Drinks In 2024, Indef: Can Reduce BPJS's Burden

JAKARTA - The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) has opened its voice regarding the implementation of packaged sugary drink excise (MBDK) which will be implemented in 2024.

Center of Digital Economy and SMEs researcher Indef Nailul Huda said there were two things that became a reference for the implementation of the policy.

First, it can reduce the burden on public health and also especially for BPJS burdens.

"Last year, our study calculated the health burden that could be reduced by the presence of sweetener excise," Huda told VOI, when met at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Building (Kemenkop UKM), Jakarta, Monday, August 14.

Second, said Huda, the application of sugary beverage excise can also have a good impact on increasing state revenues.

"Well, that's what we see as a positive thing for the implementation of excise duty. We support (implementation of sugary drink excise)," he said.

Even so, Huda did not deny any objection from the industrial side to the implementation of the policy. According to him, this policy will later eliminate people's income.

Therefore, he continued, INDEF proposed a scheme in the industrial sector to produce products that are more health-friendly. Thus, later subject to lower excise rates.

"So, there are incentives for the industry to produce healthier drinks than now," he said.

In this case, the incentive in question is policy incentives. If in the industrial sector they can produce drinks with a lower sugar dose, later they will also be subject to lower excise rates.

"That's why we said there are incentives for them to produce healthier drinks, such as those in Malaysia or Thailand, that's it. So, we only measure from there, some from the product, then some from the sugar dose. The higher the sugar dose, the higher the excise rate," he added.