Kemenkop UKM Regarding The Prohibition Of Retailed Cigarette Selling: There Are Complaints From MSMEs, But They Are Still Being Discussed

Deputy for Micro Business at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Yulius. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) admitted that it had received a number of complaints from MSME actors due to the ban on the sale of retail cigarettes or bars.

Deputy for Micro Business at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Yulius said that his party is currently discussing a number of incoming complaints. However, he has not been able to provide further information regarding the response of the Kemenkop UKM to these complaints.

"There are complaints, but we are still discussing it. Because that is the direction of the Ministry of Health. So, our response cannot be spoken here," Yulius told reporters at the Kemenkop UKM Building, Jakarta, Monday, August 12.

Thus, said Yulius, the Kemenkop UKM has not been able to state whether to support this or reject it. "(We) can't, say," he added.

The government officially prohibits the sale of tobacco products in units per stick or retail.

This is stated in Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024 derivatives of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health or the Health Law. Although it aims well, the ban on selling retail cigarettes is considered too late.

Since the issuance of Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024, several articles have drawn strong reactions from the public. One of them is the one who regulates the prohibition of selling cigarettes in retail units per stick as stated in Article 434.

The same article also prohibits selling tobacco products and electronic cigarettes within a radius of 200 meters (m) from educational units and children's playgrounds.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian People's Markets (Apartion) Suhendro stated that the issuance of the Health PP would threaten the survival of 9 million traders in people's markets spread throughout Indonesia.

The rules that are in the spotlight of the Apparatus are the prohibition of selling cigarettes within a radius of 200 m from educational units and playgrounds as well as the prohibition of selling cigarettes in retail.

According to Suhendro, this rule is random to apply.

"We strongly reject these two restrictions because of several factors. One of them is because many markets are close to schools, educational institutions or children's play facilities. This regulation can also reduce the turnover of market traders, which many come from the sale of tobacco products. This will create new problems for us as business actors," he said.